Pain in Hospital: A Real-Word Data Analysis.
Virginie Claivaz, Malik Benmachiche, Zeina Santoro and 2 others
PMID 40019042WHAT IT FOUND
At least one self-rated pain score of 3 or more was documented in 56.86% of ward stays and severe pain in 18.84%.
Analgesics were given in 72.43%, nonpharmacological care in 9.07%. Nurses should check whether pain treatment included nonpharmacological options.
Key findings
01Pain prevalence, defined as at least one score of 3 or more, was 56.86%; severe pain prevalence, defined as score 7 or more, was 18.84%.
02At least one pain assessment was documented in 96.35% of ward stays, with a median of 2.36 assessments per day, but nonpharmacological interventions were provided in only 9.07% of stays.
03Analgesics were more likely when pain was documented (odds ratio 6.46) and when severe pain was documented (odds ratio 6.59); severe pain was more likely in medical wards (odds ratio 1.46).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study used retrospective electronic records, so assessments or interventions that were done but not recorded could be missed, and documentation gaps may not reflect actual practice. Only self-assessment pain scores were analysed because hetero-assessment scales were rarely documented, so patients who could not self-report may be underrepresented. The thresholds for giving analgesic interventions changed during the study period and were not consistent with literature recommendations. Pain intensity was measured with only one dimension, not a full pain assessment. The study was monocentric, so its findings may not generalise to other hospitals. The number of patients excluded for consent reasons was not known.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the high odds of analgesic administration when pain was documented as proof that pain was managed well. The study describes recorded routine data, thresholds changed during the period, and nonpharmacological interventions were uncommon.