Pain in intensive care unit patients—A longitudinal study
Brita Fosser Olsen, Berit Taraldsen Valeberg, Morten Jacobsen, Milada Cvancarova Småstuen, Kathleen Puntillo, Tone Rustøen
Abstract
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.