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 of 262 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 III female 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 among female 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 demanding jobs.