^* According to the latest edition of the Haleon Pain Index, half (49%) feel
who stigmatizes people with pain ([1][2])
* 42% regularly feel lonely because of their pain, and a third
feels serious loneliness (based on the UCLA
loneliness scale)([3])
* 32% of people who suffer from pain fear that they are related
be judged on it
* Women, people of color and the LGBQ+ community are the strongest
affected
* Generation Z feels more unheard than baby boomers
LONDON, Sept. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A new study involving 18,097
People in 18 countries took part revealed that society is less
has become tolerant of pain patients, despite the effects of
COVID-19 increasing global health awareness.
The fifth edition of the Haleon Pain Index (HPI)([1]), the one from the
Health company Haleon is created, suggests that the
Attitude towards pain in society after the pandemic now
is more judgmental and less tolerant: half (49%) of pain patients feel
feel stigmatized and a third (32%) fear they will be persecuted because of their
Pain is condemned.
The global index has been researching the actual for almost a decade
Effects of pain on people’s lives. This year’s study
has revealed that the social and emotional impact of pain since
the first edition in 2014 have increased by almost 25%, whereby
Stigmatization and social isolation due to everyday pain worldwide
gain weight. 42% of people surveyed said they were lonely on a regular basis
feel when they are in pain. Feelings of serious loneliness occurred worldwide
on: 38% of people in mainland China, 33% in Australia and
32% in the UK said this. This is consistent with the warnings
the World Health Organization ([)(4)(]) from the effects of loneliness and
social isolation on public health and in spring 2023
so-called loneliness epidemic ([)(5)(]).
Dr. Linda Papadopoulos, psychologist and author, says: Everyday pain is
a health problem that can be easily dismissed or trivialized.
Many people are not aware that the effects are much worse
can be more than the symptoms themselves. The consequences of loneliness and the
Mental health impacts caused by lack of
Empathy and different treatment are caused
getting worse. As a society we need to have empathy and that
Improve understanding in a world that is always evolving towards these issues
more hardened.”
The HPI has found that people who are already in society with
Prejudice, discrimination and exclusion are faced most strongly by
affected by these hardened views about pain.
* 58% of women said their pain was treated differently to them
were not believed or that they were discriminated against because of it,
compared to 49% of men. This proportion is highest among women
India (74%), in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) (74%), in Brazil (74%)
and in mainland China (61%).
* 59% of people of color reported treating their pain differently
that they were not believed or that they were discriminated against because of it
compared to 48% of white people. This proportion is highest in
Brazil (71%), Poland (64%) and the USA (64%), while in the United
Kingdom is at 60%.
* 44% of LGBQ+ people fear other people will make assumptions about them
and express their pain, compared to 32% of heterosexuals. At the
This value is highest in India (61%), the USA (54%), Canada (49%) and
Australia (48%).
The study also showed a stark generational gap in how
People experience pain, and suggests that younger patients are most likely
most struggle with making their pain known and one
To receive treatment:
* 70% of Generation Z people said their pain was different
were treated, they were not believed or that they were therefore
have been discriminated against, compared to 40% of baby boomers. At the
This proportion is highest in India (80%), the USA (79%) and in
United Kingdom (74%).
* 45% of people from Generation Z said that pain was a problem for them
are very taboo to talk about compared to 35% of babies
Boomers.
While the older generation finds it easier to express their pain and
to get treatment, they become health-related when accessing online
Information most excluded. 45% of 75 to 84 year olds said
that they find it difficult to access this information online because they
are not familiar enough with the Internet, compared to 33% overall.
Respondents agreed that a more individual and compassionate
Dealing with pain is required. More than two-thirds (68%) of people
stated that greater empathy helps combat bias and
Exclusion would significantly improve their experience of pain. At the same time
69% of those surveyed would like doctors to be better trained
to assess pain in each patient, and 62% of those surveyed,
that pharmacist.
Lisa Jennings, Head of Global Over the Counter Category at Haleon, said:
“Pain is indeed a universal human experience that affects many
Loneliness and stigma results, but the effects vary
Social group varies greatly, with the most marginalized being the most
are most affected. Our goal is to break down the barriers to better
To eliminate health in everyday life for everyone – regardless of age, ethnicity
Origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability and other factors.
The HPI shows that we can understand the social and emotional impact of pain
can reduce the perception and conversations about the
Change pain management. Therefore, we take measures through various
Programs like our #ListenToPain initiative, which targets medical
specialists all over the world.”
Haleon’s #ListenToPain program supports family members
Healthcare professionals are working to improve communication with patients
Targeted discussion about pain tailored to the individual patient
respectively. #ListentoPain contains five profiles that people share
different attitudes and behaviors when dealing with pain
describe and help healthcare professionals to deal with them
to design individually with your patients. With continuous medical
Care means a true understanding of how the pain occurs in the
Over time, pain management strategies also change
can be further developed and be more effective in the long term.
Media contact:
For more information about the HPI or to request an interview, please contact
please to:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
For more information about Haleon, please contact:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
Notes to the editors
About the Haleon Pain Index study
The Haleon Pain Index (HPI) is a proprietary, globally representative index
Longitudinal social study conducted by Edelman Data x Intelligence (DXI)
is carried out. The study is intended to give pain patients a voice and
assess the development of pain. As part of the study, the
perceived impact of pain on people’s daily lives,
their health, their feelings, emotions, motivations and behaviors
captured, with the human experience at its core. In her fifth
Edition, the study includes an assessment of the barriers to effective
Pain treatment in healthcare settings. For the fifth edition
The perceptions of over 18,000 respondents from 18 countries were recorded.
Markets covered in HPI 5: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia,
France, Germany, India, Italy, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Malaysia,
Mexico, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, USA.
The age groups are divided into different generations:
* Generation Z: People between 18 and 26 years old
* Millennials: People between 27 and 42 years old
* Generation X: People between 43 and 58 years old
* Boomers 1*: People between 59 and 66 years old
* Boomers 2*: People between 67 and 77 years old
* Mute: People between 78 and 84 years old
1* For the first time, the Haleon Pain Index (HPI) now captures the opinion of
Experts, general practitioners, pharmacists and nurses in 4 key markets:
Australia, Germany, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and USA. In this first one
We have the output in a tailor-made 15-minute online survey
Insights from more than 600 experts (150 per market*) collected to your
Views on pain, its challenges as professionals in
Healthcare and the role it plays in promoting positivity
Changes can play, to be examined.
2* Doctors and nurses were surveyed in the USA, in Australia and in
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia doctors and pharmacists and in Germany pharmacists and
PTAs.
About Listen To Pain
#ListenToPain is a global initiative by Haleon that makes it medical
To enable professionals to maximize their time with patients and them
to help better understand a patient’s pain experience
to offer those affected a treatment plan that is suitable for them.
#ListenToPain is on Haleon Health Partner, a special
digital platform for medical professionals, and contains a range
practical tools for better interactions, ratings and results. This
Tools and resources for pharmacists will help them ease the pain
to better understand their patients and to have conversations about pain management
lead.
Find more information and the full range of #ListentoPain resources
Visit www.haleonhealthpartner.com (http://www.haleonhealthpartner.com/).
About Haleon
Haleon (LSE / NYSE: HLN) is a global leader in the
Consumer health, which aims to improve health in everyday life
to improve with humanity. Haleon’s product portfolio includes five
Main Categories – Oral Health, Pain Relief, Respiratory Health,
Digestive health and other as well as vitamins, minerals and
Dietary Supplements (VMS). The company’s long-standing brands – such as
Advil, Sensodyne, Panadol, Voltaren, Theraflu, Otrivin, Polident, Parodontax and
Center – based on reliable science, innovation and deep
human understanding.
For more information, visit www.haleon.com (http://www.haleon.com/).
(_________________________________________________________________)
(1) Haleon. Pain index. 2023. Data available.
(2) The Haleon Pain Index was formerly known as the Global Pain Index.
(3) Russell, D, et al., 1978. Developing a measure of loneliness. Journal of
Personality Assessment, 42, 290-294. Available under:
https://fetzer.org/sites/default/files/images/stories/pdf/selfmeasures/Self_Meas
ures_for_Loneliness_and_Interpersonal_Problems_UCLA_LONELINESS.pdf. [18.
September 2023].
(4) World Health Organization (WHO). No date. Social isolation etc
Loneliness. Available at: https://www.who.int/teams/social-determinants-of-
health/demographic-change-and-healthy-aging/social-isolation-and-
loneliness [18. September 2023].
(5) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2023. Health Risks of Social
Isolation and loneliness. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/emotional-
wellbeing/social
connectedness/loneliness.htm#:~:text=Social%20isolation%20and%20loneliness%20hav
e,linked%20to%20increased%20risk%20for%3A&text=Heart%20disease%20and%20stroke.,T
ype%202%20diabetes. [18. September 2023].
°