The effect of gender and working conditions on pain threshold in healthy volunteers

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensorial/affective dimension pain levels of patients using an electrostimulation method and to investigate the effects of gender and working conditions on pain thresholds. Methods: The sensorial dimension of pain and pain threshold levels of262 healthy volunteers, aged between 20 and 40 years, were assessed using a Painmatcher machine. Patients were divided into four groups during the assessment period: Group I female medical staff (KS) (female doctors/nurses), Group II male medical staff (ES) (male doctors), Group IIIfemale sanitation workers (KT), and Group IV male sanitation workers (ET). Results: The sensorial dimension of pain was significantly higher in male and female sanitation workers than amongfemale medical staff (p<0.05). Sensorial dimension of pain were similar between male medical staff and female sanitation workers (p>0.05). Pain threshold levels were significantly higher in male sanitation workers than male medical staff (p<0.05). Female sanitation workers and female medical staff had similar pain threshold levels (p>0.05). The correlation between pain threshold levels and sensorial dimension of pain was not significant in Groups KS and ET, however this correlation was significant in groups ES and KT (p<0.05). Conclusion: The sensorial dimension of pain and pain threshold levels are more strongly associated with working conditions than gender. The threshold level of pain was high in individuals with physically demandingjobs.