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A retrospective review of pain management in Tasmanian residential aged care facilities
Citation
Veal, F and Williams, M and Bereznicki, L and Cummings, E and Winzenberg, T, A retrospective review of pain management in Tasmanian residential aged care facilities, BJGP Open, 3, (1) pp. bjgpopen18X101629. ISSN 2398-3795 (2019) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2018 The Author(s) Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
DOI: doi:10.3399/bjgpopen18X101629
Abstract
Background: The management of pain by GPs for residents of aged care facilities (ACFs) is very common.
Aim: To measure the prevalence and assess the management of pain in ACF residents, particularly those with dementia.
Design & setting: A retrospective review of ACF residents’ medical records was undertaken at five southern Tasmanian (Australia) ACFs.
Method: Data extracted included results of the most recent assessment of pain and its management, frequency and treatment of pain incidents in the previous 7 days, demographics, and medical and medication history. Univariate analysis was used to identify variables associated with increased frequency of pain episodes.
Results: The final analysis included 477 residents. At least one episode of pain in the preceding 7 days was documented in 25.6% (n = 122) of residents’ notes. Pain episodes were most commonly managed by analgesics (45.5%), massage (40.7%), and heatpacks (13.8%). Residents with dementia were not less likely to have pain identified during the past week (14% versus 20%; P = 0.09), but they were much less likely to have pain identified on their most recent pain assessment (P = 0.03).
Conclusion: should carefully consider the suitability of using ‘as required’ analgesics. Furthermore, on admission to an ACF, GPs need to ensure a patient’s medical history includes all pain or potentially pain-causing conditions, to ensure that a resident’s pain assessment is complete. This is especially necessary for those with dementia, to ensure that staff remain vigilant about the possibility of the resident experiencing pain.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | pain, aged care, elderly |
Research Division: | Medical and Health Sciences |
Research Group: | Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences |
Research Field: | Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice |
Objective Division: | Health |
Objective Group: | Health and Support Services |
Objective Field: | Allied Health Therapies (excl. Mental Health Services) |
UTAS Author: | Veal, F (Ms Felicity Veal) |
UTAS Author: | Williams, M (Dr Mackenzie Williams) |
UTAS Author: | Bereznicki, L (Professor Luke Bereznicki) |
UTAS Author: | Cummings, E (Associate Professor Liz Cummings) |
UTAS Author: | Winzenberg, T (Professor Tania Winzenberg) |
ID Code: | 131221 |
Year Published: | 2019 |
Deposited By: | Pharmacy |
Deposited On: | 2019-03-06 |
Last Modified: | 2019-08-26 |
Downloads: | 6 View Download Statistics |
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