Objectives To determine the prevalence and factors associated with pain-related disabilities among First Nations people living off-reserve in Canada in 2017. Design and setting Secondary analysis of the 2017 Aboriginal Peoples Survey, a cross-sectional survey of individuals living in private dwellings throughout Canada. Participants First Nations people living off-reserve aged 15 years and older (n=9115; weighted n=482 066). Outcome measure Pain-related disabilities, defined as pain-related activity limitations lasting ≥6 months. Results Overall, 22.1% (95% CI 20.9% to 23.4%) of First Nations people living off-reserve reported pain-related disabilities. Prevalence was higher among females (26.1%; 95% CI (24.3% to 28.0%)), increased with age (34.3%; 95% CI (30.3% to 38.5%) among those 45 to 54 years) and was similar across geographic areas (ranging from 21.0%; 95% CI (18.3% to 23.9%) to 22.5%; 95% CI (20.8% to 24.2%)). Pain-related disabilities increased with the number of coexisting disabilities (96.2%; 95% CI (94.3% to 97.5%) among those with >3 disabilities) and was highest among those reporting physical disabilities (ranging from 88.2%; 95% CI (85.6% to 90.4%) for those with mobility disabilities to 91.0%; 95% CI (88.6% to 92.9%) for those with disability related to flexibility). Regression models suggested that individuals with unmet basic needs, housing dissatisfaction, unmet healthcare needs, a history of mental health consultations, part-time or no employment, chronic conditions, residential school attendance or a low sense of belonging were more likely to report pain-related disabilities. Conclusions Pain-related disabilities are common among First Nations people living off-reserve, and their aetiology may be multifactorial. Continued collaboration with Indigenous partners is required to contextualise findings and to inform culturally responsive clinical and rehabilitation strategies.
DeSouza et al. (Sun,) studied this question.