Pain in intensive care unit patients—A longitudinal study

• Main Authors: Brita F. Olsen, Berit T. Valeberg, Morten Jacobsen, Milada C. Småstuen, Kathleen Puntillo, Tone Rustøen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
• Series: Nursing Open
• Subjects: critical care; intensive care units; pain; pain measurement
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.621

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.