Development and Testing of a Chronic Pain Integration Questionnaire

Abstract

Background. Understanding how people adjust to living with chronic pain is paramount because of the negative impact of chronic pain on quality of life. Chronic pain integration has been proposed as a new construct that may enhance understanding of chronic pain adjustment. Integration, as defined by people living with chronic pain, is an ongoing process in which the person with chronic pain evolves becoming a mentally and physically stronger individual; creating a sense of harmony and control in one’s life. These positive outcomes of integration necessitate its continued investigation in chronic pain, especially if it may positively affect life quality. Objective. There were two overarching purposes of this study: (a) to further refine and test the psychometric properties of the Chronic Pain Integration Questionnaire (CPIQ); and (b) to examine four research hypotheses based on the proposed relationships between several constructs. Method and Results. Utilizing a quantitative, non-experimental design, the CPIQ demonstrated internal consistency reliability, test-retest reliability, and evidence of validity when tested in a sample of 201 adults living with chronic non-cancer pain. All four of the research hypotheses were confirmed and three domains of the CPIQ were identified through exploratory factor analysis: self-management, self-awareness, and intrinsic adjustment. The favourable psychometric results of the CPIQ provide support for its continued use to understand adjustment in chronic pain. Ultimately, the goal of future research with the CPIQ is to identify effective interventions that promote chronic pain integration; leading to improved life quality for the person with chronic pain.