Pain and Prescription Opioid Use Among US Construction Workers

Findings From the 2011‒2018 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey

Bibliographic Data

ID11039006
AuthorsXiuwen Sue Dong (0000-0002-6253-0598, All authors are with CPWR -- The Center for Construction Research and Training, Silver Spring, MD.), Raina D Brooks (0000-0001-7192-0814, All authors are with CPWR -- The Center for Construction Research and Training, Silver Spring, MD.), Christopher Rodman (All authors are with CPWR -- The Center for Construction Research and Training, Silver Spring, MD.), Richard Rinehart (All authors are with CPWR -- The Center for Construction Research and Training, Silver Spring, MD.), Samantha Brown (0000-0001-5001-525X, All authors are with CPWR -- The Center for Construction Research and Training, Silver Spring, MD.)
Year2022
Volume112
IssueS1
PagesS77-S87
Publication date2022-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.2021.306510
PMID35143279
OpenAlexW4211012615
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited14

Objectives. To examine prescription opioid and nonopioid analgesic use among US construction workers and their associations with pain conditions and sociodemographic factors. Methods. We analyzed data for about 9000 (weighted 11.5 million per year) construction workers who responded to the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey from 2011 to 2018. We applied both descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression procedures in the analyses. Results. An estimated 1.2 million (10.0%) of construction workers used prescription opioid analgesics annually. The adjusted odds of prescription opioid use were significantly higher for workers suffering from work-related injuries (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.82; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.72, 5.37), non‒work-related injuries (AOR = 3.37; 95% CI = 2.54, 4.46), and musculoskeletal disorders (AOR = 2.31; 95% CI = 1.80, 2.95) after we controlled for potential confounders. Adjusted odds of prescription opioid use were also higher among workers with poorer physical health (AOR = 1.95; 95% CI = 1.42, 2.69) or mental health disorders (AOR = 1.95; 95% CI = 1.41, 2.68). Conclusions. Work- and non‒work-related injuries and musculoskeletal disorders significantly increased prescription opioid use among construction workers. To prevent opioid use disorders, multipronged strategies should be approached. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(S1):S77–S87. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306510 )

Confidence interval · Logistic regression · Medical Expenditure Panel Survey · Medical prescription · National Health Interview Survey · Odds · Odds ratio · Opioid · Public health · Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation · Occupational Health and Safety Research · Opioid Use Disorder Treatment

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