Pain assessment in surgical patients in the South Bohemia region

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to describe the current state of pain assessment in surgical patients in the South Bohemia region. Design: A quantitative descriptive study. Methods: Two sets of questionnaires were used to determine the state of pain assessment. The sample included 253 nurses and 205 patients from the South Bohemia region. Results: Nurses use visual analog scales (129) and verbal pain assessment (89) to assess pain. A more precise verbal description of pain assessment would be appreciated by 44 of the respondents, and 42 would appreciate confirmation of assessments by doctors. According to nurses, the main pain manifestations in patients are: limited mobility (156), verbal expressions (134), lack of cooperation (129) and limited independence (128). Direct physical manifestations of pain mentioned by patients include: limited mobility (140), limited independence (97), and mimic manifestation (46). Patients would like pain assessments complemented by more accurate verbal assessments (84), use of pictures to illustrate pain (40), and increased frequency of assessment by doctors (29). Conclusion: The data obtained suggest some shortcomings in pain assessment, and indicate the spheres in which provision of care could be improved.

Pain assessment practice and associated factors among nurses working at adult care units in public hospitals in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia, 2021

“…The result ties well with a previous study in Ethiopia [41]. Contrary to the findings, studies [33,34,39] and [40] reported a lower and higher magnitude, respectively. The possible reasons for the discrepancy could be due to some of the previous studies with smaller sample sizes and differences in a tool used for pain assessment practice.…”

“…Implementing the principles of pain assessment remains a challenge for many nurses [30,31]. Several studies from developed countries pointed out that nurses' pain assessments vary across regions, with some reports suggesting poor compliance among nurses in recording and reporting pain assessment findings [31][32][33][34][35]. On the other hand, problems of applying the standard of pain assessment were shown to be more prominent in low-income countries [36].…”

Pain Assessment: Benefits of Using Pain Scales for Surgical Patients in South Bohemian Hospitals

“…This study describes the manifestation of pain and its effects on patients (N = 205) hospitalized in surgical departments in the South Bohemian Region (Czech Republic). The most frequently mentioned aspects are physical manifestations, movement restrictions, decreased self-sufficiency, emotional instability, lowered verbal expression, and grimacing due to pain [ 5 ]. Pain management still poses a significant challenge for doctors, nurses, and other medical staff.…”

“…Today, a number of assessment tools are available to assess pain, including visual scales for pain assessment, the critical care observation tool (CPOT), the face, leg, activity, cry, and consolability scale (FLACC), and the behavioral pain scale Healthcare 2021, 9, 171 2 of 12 (BPS). In the South Bohemian Region (Czech Republic), based on data obtained from patients hospitalized in surgical departments (N = 205) and nurses working in this type of ward (N = 253), the visual analogue scale, verbal pain assessment, and pain assessment records are the most commonly used assessment tools [5]. These assessment tools are single-dimensional, i.e., these scales measure only pain intensity.…”