Title

Pain Behaviors and Pharmacological Pain Management Among Newly Admitted Nursing Home Residents

UMMS Affiliation

Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences; Graduate School of Nursing

Publication Date

2021-07-01

Document Type

Article

Disciplines

Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment | Health Services Administration | Nursing | Pain Management | Pharmaceutical Preparations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Clinicians may place more weight on vocal complaints of pain than the other pain behaviors when making decisions about pain management.

OBJECTIVES: We examined the association between documented pain behaviors and pharmacological pain management among nursing home residents.

METHODS: We included 447,684 residents unable to self-report pain, with staff-documented pain behaviors (vocal, nonverbal, facial expressions, protective behaviors) and pharmacological pain management documented on the 2010-2016 Minimum Data Set 3.0. The outcome was no pharmacological pain medications, as needed only (pro re nata [PRN]), as scheduled only, or as scheduled with PRN medications. We estimated adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals from multinomial logistic models.

RESULTS: Relative to residents with vocal complaints only, those with one pain behavior documented (i.e., nonverbal, facial, or protective behavior) were more likely to lack pain medication versus scheduled and PRN medications. Residents with multiple pain behaviors documented were least likely to have no treatment relative to scheduled with PRN medications, PRN only, or scheduled only pain medication regimens.

DISCUSSION: The type and number of pain behaviors observed are associated with pharmacological pain management regimen. Improving staff recognition of pain among residents unable to self-report is warranted in nursing homes.

Keywords

analgesics, nursing homes, pain, pain management

DOI of Published Version

10.1097/NNR.0000000000000509

Source

Mbrah AK, Bova C, Jesdale BM, Nunes AP, Lapane KL. Pain Behaviors and Pharmacological Pain Management Among Newly Admitted Nursing Home Residents. Nurs Res. 2021 Jul-Aug 01;70(4):273-280. doi: 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000509. PMID: 34160183; PMCID: PMC8231735. Link to article on publisher's site

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Nursing research

PubMed ID

34160183

Related Resources

Link to Article in PubMed

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS