当前位置： SCI文献检索 > Journal of the American Medical Directors Association期刊下所有文献 > Methods of pain assessment in residents of long-term care facilities: a pilot study.

Methods of pain assessment in residents of long-term care facilities: a pilot study.

Abstract：

OBJECTIVES:Structured programs for routine pain assessment and treatment are necessary to optimize care for residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs). A pilot study was designed to develop, implement, and evaluate a system for pain assessment and monitoring in a LTCF. Additional goals were to determine whether a verbal and/or non-verbal tool adequately assess pain in residents of LTCFs and whether the pharmacologic therapy for pain changes with the implementation of a pain assessment and monitoring system. DESIGN:Quantitative, nonexperimental design using two pain assessment tools. SETTING:The study was conducted at a LTCF in a rural midwestern setting. PARTICIPANTS:The study population for phase I included residents on any pain medication (regularly scheduled or as needed) on the secure dementia unit. The target population for phase II consisted of residents on any pain medication on an open unit. INTERVENTION:Training was provided to the nursing staff on how to use two pain assessment tools, one verbal (colored visual analog scale) and one nonverbal (observed pain target behaviors), and documentation. In addition, a continuing education program on pain assessment and management in elderly residents and barriers to pain management in LTCFs was offered to medical providers. MEASUREMENTS:Evaluation with the colored visual analog scale (CVAS) occurred twice daily. Pain target behaviors were monitored throughout the day and recorded by nursing staff at the end of each shift. All residents in the study population were monitored daily for six months. RESULTS:Most of the residents on both units were unable to use the verbal tool; however, the nonverbal tool was used successfully for all residents studied. On the dementia unit, the use of pain medications increased, and pain target behaviors decreased during the study period; on the open unit, the use of pain medications remained stable, and pain target behaviors decreased. CONCLUSION:These data suggest that an increase in awareness of pain may facilitate an improvement in the assessment and management of pain in residents of LTCFs. The feasibility of the nonverbal pain monitoring method shown in this study has positive implications on quality of care issues if generalizable to a larger population.

journal_name

J Am Med Dir Assoc

journal_title

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association

authors

Alexander BJ,Plank P,Carlson MB,Hanson P,Picken K,Schwebke K

doi

10.1016/j.jamda.2004.12.024

keywords:

subject

Has Abstract

pub_date

2005-03-01 00:00:00

pages

137-43

issue

eissn

1525-8610

issn

1538-9375

pii

S1525-8610(04)00025-8

journal_volume

pub_type

临床试验,杂志文章

在线工具

Methods of pain assessment in residents of long-term care facilities: a pilot study.