Pain in intensive care unit patients—A longitudinal study
Olsen, Brita Fosser; Valeberg, Berit Taraldsen; Jacobsen, Morten; Småstuen, Milada Cvancarova; Puntillo, Kathleen; Rustøen, Tone
Peer reviewed, Journal article
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Date
2020-09-12Metadata
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Abstract
Aim: To assess occurrence of pain during the first 6 days of intensive care unit (ICU) stay and evaluate associations between occurrence of pain and selected patient‐related variables. Design: A longitudinal study. Methods: Adult ICU patients from three units were included. Patients' pain was assessed with valid pain assessment tools every 8 hr during their first 6 days in ICU. Possible associations between occurrence of pain and selected patient‐related variables were modelled using multiple logistic regression. Results: When pain was assessed regularly with pain assessment tools, 10% of patients were in pain at rest and 27% were in pain during turning. The proportions of patients who were in pain were significantly higher for patients able to self‐report pain, compared with patients not able to self‐report (p < .001). Several predictors were associated with being in pain. It is important to be aware of these predictors in order to improve pain management.