Pain and Distress among Elderly Intensive Care Unit Patients: Comparison of Patient’s Experiences and Nurses’ Assessments in the Hospitals affiliated to Tabriz Medical Sciences University 1379.

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Pain is the most frequent reason people seek help from health professionals. Studies show that patients within acute health care like cancer patients, postoperative patients and intensive care often experiences sever physical pain. People aged 65 and elder constitute a large part of the patients in acute health care and also in intensive care. Within intensive care, pain is often a problem and pain cause significant psychological and physiological stress and may have a negative impact on patient recovery. Therefore, nurse’s assessments of pain, choices of interventions, and evaluation of pain relief are critical to effective pain management. Material & Methods: The present study is a descriptive- comparative study that elderly patient’s experiences of pain and distress in intensive cares with nurse’s assessment of the hospitals affiliated to Tabriz Medical Sciences University was investigated. Data were collected using a questionnaire that were conducted with patients with use of structured an interview format. The nurse’s completed the questionnaire end of the shift. The study setting included whole of elderly patient’s intensive care unit and nurses of hospitals affiliated to Tabriz Medical Sciences University. Sample size consisted of 45 patients and 45 nurses that by using of the convenience sampling was selected. The non-parametric test of Wilcoxon is used to compare of the results. Results: The Study results showed that patients in sensory dimension physical pain and breathing problems reported more than nurses. The Wilcoxon test showed significantly differences between physical pain (p<0/0001) and breathing problems (p=0/0063) at earlier during stay. In intellectual dimension patients received sufficient information about what was to happen earlier during stay reported more than nurses. The Wilcoxon test showed significantly difference (p=0/0018) in this case. In the emotional dimension nurses reported more worry and fear than patients. The Wilcoxon test showed significantly differences between worry (p=0/0086) and fear (p=0/0003) at discharge time. Discussion: The finding showed that elderly patient’s experiences pain and distress do not fully congruent with nurse’s assessments of this experiences. Therefore this study results expressed more attention necessity of nursing respondents and managers in related to improvement the ability of nurses in the holistic care (physical, psychological, social) of elderly intensive care unit patients.