349: Equal pain rehabilitation: Are sociodemographic factors associated with treatment effects?

Topic: Clinical Science
Subtopic: Pain category (ICD-11), Chronic primary musculoskeletal pain, Gender/sex differences, Epidemiology, Treatment/management

Background and Aims: Chronic pain is a complex public health issue affecting about 20% of the European population (1). In Swedish tertiary care, interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation programs (IPRPs) are commonly used (2). The Swedish legislation states that healthcare should be provided on equal terms with need as a strong principle (3). There is a knowledge gap regarding the impact of sociodemographic factors on treatment effects after IPRP. Increased knowledge is important for equal and knowledge-based care.
The aim is to investigate if sociodemographic factors (gender, age, education level, birth region), and their combinations, are associated with treatment effects after IPRP in tertiary care.

Methods: The study is based on the Swedish Quality Registry for Pain Rehabilitation (SQRP), covering most Swedish tertiary care pain clinics. The study includes approximately 15,000 patients (≥ 18 years) with chronic pain who underwent IPRP between 2017 and 2022. Self-reported data from questionnaires completed by the patient before, directly after- and one year after- completion of IPRP will be analyzed. Primary outcome variables are pain intensity and health-related quality of life (physical and mental component summary scales) (4). Analysis methods will include regression models for the primary outcomes and the sociodemographic factors as explanatory variables.

Results: The study is expected to provide results from an intersectional analysis, based on regression models including both main effects and interaction terms.
These analyses may indicate the effect on the primary outcomes after the current form of IPRP treatment, and possible inequalities.

Conclusions: The study may increase knowledge about treatment effects after IPRP and clarify for whom the current program is most effective. This provides an important scientific basis for continued development of IPRP and supports efforts to promote more equitable tertiary pain care in Sweden. The findings can also strengthen implementation in clinical practice by helping clinicians tailor interventions to specific patient groups, refine treatment pathways, and guide evidence based resource allocation.

References: 1. Breivik, H., E. Eisenberg, and T. O'Brien, The individual and societal burden of chronic pain in Europe: the case for strategic prioritisation and action to improve
knowledge and availability of appropriate care. BMC public health, 2013. 13: p. 1229-1243.
2. Fischer, M.R., Schults M.L., Stålnacke B.M., Ekholm J., Persson E.B., Löfgren M., Variability in patient characteristics and service provision of interdisciplinary pain
rehabilitation: A study using the Swedish national quality registry for pain rehabilitation. J Rehabil Med, 2020. 52(11): p. jrm00128.
3. Sveriges riksdag [The Swedish Parliament]. Hälso- och sjukvårdslagen (2017:30). [Health and Medical Services Act]. 2017:30 2017; Available from:
https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/halso--och-sjukvardslag_sfs-2017-30.
4. Hays, R.D. and L.S. Morales, The RAND-36 measure of health-related quality of life. Ann Med, 2001. 33(5): p. 350-7.

Presenting Author: Helene Svensdotter
Submitting Author: Helene Svensdotter

Senior Author: Anna Grimby Ekman

IASP 2026 Global Year theme of Neuropathic Pain: No

• Louise Danielsson: Associate Professor - Institution of Neuroscience nad Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
• Jesper Löve: Associate Professor - School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
• Anke Samulowitz: PhD - School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
• Lena Sandin Wranker: PhD - Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
• Linda Vixner: Associate Professor - School of Health and Welfare, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden.
• Björn Äng: Professor - School of Health and Welfare, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden.
• Anna Grimby Ekman: Professor - School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.