Effect of Personal Factors, Occupation, and Pain Location on Pain Levels of Patients with Musculoskeletal Disorders in Rural Areas of Thailand

Aims: Musculoskeletal disorders are prevalent health concerns. This research aimed to investigate the influence of personal factors, occupation, and pain location on pain levels in patients with musculoskeletal disorders in a rural area. Instrument Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 400 patients diagnosed with musculoskeletal disorders at Phrom Khiri Hospital in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. Data on personal factors, occupation, pain location, and baseline pain intensity were collected. Participants were classified into mild, moderate, and severe pain levels according to the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Multiple discriminant analyses were performed to identify the influencing factors and pain levels. Findings: All examined factors were able to predict the classification of pain levels in musculoskeletal disorders across the three severity groups (p=0.003), with an accuracy of 41.25%. Specifically, mild pain levels were associated with height and occupation. A combination of height and occupation predicted moderate pain levels, while severe pain levels were linked to pain location, gender, and weight. Conclusion: Personal factors, occupation, and pain location correlate and predict pain levels in patients with musculoskeletal disorders in rural areas.