The Effect of Gender and Working Conditions on Pain Threshold in Healty Volunteers

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensorial/affective dimension pain levels of patients with electrostimulation method and investigate the effects of gender/working conditions on pain thresholds.
Material and methods: The sensorial dimension of pain and pain threshold levels of 262 healthy volunteers, ages between 20 and 40 years were assessed by using the Painmatcher machine. Patients were divided into four groups during the assessment period; Group I female medical staff (KS) (woman doctors/nurses), Group II male medical staff (ES) (male doctors), Group III female sanitation workers (KT) and Group IV male sanitation workers (ET).
Results: Sensorial dimension of pain was significantly higher in male and female sanitation workers than 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). Correlation between pain threshold levels and sensorial dimension of pain were not significant in Groups KS and ET, however it was significant between groups ES and KT (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Sensorial dimension of pain and pain threshold levels are affected by working conditions rather than gender. Threshold level of pain was high in physically working people.
Key words: Painmatcher, pain threshold, gender.