Pain Clinic and Societal Safety: Promoting Road Safety, Family Well-being, Workplace Safety, and Risk Management
Olumuyiwa A. Bamgbade1*, Kimberly J. Savage2, Timothy O. Bamgbade3, Nancy E. Tase4, Bolajoko E. Bada5, Genet T. Yimam6, Aria G. Mwizero7, Temitope E. Oyewole8, Mwewa Chansa9, Grace G. Gitonga10, Olusanya J. Oluwole11, Thakgalo Thibela12, Yesenia L. Martinez13, Gloria D. Chauke14
1Department of Anesthesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
2Research Department, Salem Anaesthesia Pain Clinic Surrey, Vancouver, Canada.
3Research Department, Center for Societal & Health Equity, Vancouver, Canada.
4Public Health System, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria.
5Department of Caring Science, A bo Akademi University, Vaasa, Finland.
6Medical Department, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
7Department of Medicine, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda.
8Research Department, NHS North of England Commissioning Support, Durham, United Kingdom.
9Department of Nursing, University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia.
10Department of Medicine, Kenyatta University Teaching Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.
11Department of Public Health, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, USA.
12Department of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
13Medical Department, Cuban Medical Services, Havana, Cuba.
14Department of Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
*Corresponding Author: Olumuyiwa A. Bamgbade, Department of Anesthesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Postal address- POBox 75085, Surrey, BC, V4A 0B1, Canada.
https://doi.org/10.58624/SVOAMR.2025.03.017
Received: July 28, 2025
Published: August 15, 2025
Citation: Bamgbade OA, Savage KJ, Bamgbade TO, Tase NE, Bada BE, Yimam GT, Mwizero AG, Oyewole TE, Chansa M, Gitonga GG, Oluwole OJ, Thibela T, Martinez YL, Chauke GD. Pain Clinic and Societal Safety: Promoting Road Safety, Family Well-being, Workplace Safety, and Risk Management. SVOA Medical Research 2025, 3:4, 159-166. doi: 10.58624/SVOAMR.2025.03.017
Abstract
Background: Chronic pain affects 20% of adults globally and is frequently linked to substance dependence and mental health issues. These issues pose individual, family, and societal risks. Pain clinics function as socio-medical institutions promoting societal well-being through risk management. This study examines the broader sociomedical role of pain clinics in mitigating societal risks related to substance misuse.
Methods: We used convenience sampling to conduct a prospective observational clinical study of 1,203 patients who underwent routine clinical care from January 2018 to June 2025. Participants received substance misuse therapy for one of the three subgroups: road safety, family safety, or workplace safety. Data on demographics, diagnosis, and therapy types were collected and summarized with frequencies and proportions. Chi-square tests were used to assess differences in age and gender across therapy subgroups.
Results: Most patients were female (60%), middle-aged (46%), and White (49%). About 4.9% (n=59) received therapy targeting road safety or fitness to drive; 1.9% (n=23) for family safety or child custody; and 9% (n=108) for workplace safety or occupational risk. Among those receiving road safety therapy, 69.5% were male, 49.1% early adults, and 40.7% middle-aged. For patients receiving family safety therapy, 82.6% were female, 43.5% early adults, and 39.1% youths. Workplace safety therapy cases were mostly males (69.4%) and early adults (57.4%). Significant associations existed between therapy and gender (χ²=23.56, p<0.001) and age (χ²=20.58, p=0.002).
Conclusion: Pain clinics serve a dual role in healthcare and societal risk management. Pain clinics enhance road safety, promote family well-being, and mitigate workplace risks. Tailoring interventions based on demographic patterns can improve public safety and therapeutic outcomes. Integrating such services into enterprise-wide risk management frameworks strengthens organizational and societal resilience.
Keywords: Substance misuse therapy, Road safety, Family well-being and safety, Workplace safety, Enterprise-wide risk management, Chief risk officer