Introduction Although dementia and chronic pain are frequent in old age, there aren't sufficient data about the pain prevalence in elderly dementia patients. It appears that the percentage of dementia patients with at least one chronic complaint diminishes as the cognitive deficit increases. The cause of this clear underestimation comes from the impaired verbal expression of such patients, as "self-reporting" is the gold standard for pain assessment. This means that healthcare workers are responsible to identifying when a patient feels pain. Purpose/Methods An epidemiological cross sectional study among elderly patients affected by severe dementia (CDR 3-4-5) and resident in Reggio Emilia care homes, was conducted with the aim of: -assessing pain prevalence using the PAINAD observational scale, while the patients are at rest or carrying out potentially painful activities; -evaluating the percentage of patients on antalgic treatment during the assessment; -raising the awareness of doctors and nurses; -estimate the level of health workers' knowledge of pain management for elderly dementia patients. Results The results of this study showed a significant increase in the amount of pain felt by patients while performing potentially painful activities. Of the patients assessed, a considerable number were not on any antalgic treatment at the time of the assessment. More than 20% had received pain treatment with generic, non-pain specific indications, while performing the activities.

Pain assessment in elderly patients affected by severe dementia / Monica, Cervi; Stefano, Mastrangelo; Sergio, Cecchella; Michele, Bagnasco; Marcello, Gangale; Francesca, Reggiani; Roberta, Boiardi; Bargellini, Annalisa. - In: CLINICAL HEALTH PROMOTION. - ISSN 2226-5864. - ELETTRONICO. - 5 (suppl1):(2015), pp. 141-141. (Intervento presentato al convegno 23rd International Conference on Health Promoting Hospitals and Health Services "Person-oriented health promotion in a rapidly changing world: Co-production – continuity – new media & technologies" tenutosi a Oslo, Norway nel June 10-12, 2015).

Pain assessment in elderly patients affected by severe dementia

BARGELLINI, Annalisa
2015

Abstract

Introduction Although dementia and chronic pain are frequent in old age, there aren't sufficient data about the pain prevalence in elderly dementia patients. It appears that the percentage of dementia patients with at least one chronic complaint diminishes as the cognitive deficit increases. The cause of this clear underestimation comes from the impaired verbal expression of such patients, as "self-reporting" is the gold standard for pain assessment. This means that healthcare workers are responsible to identifying when a patient feels pain. Purpose/Methods An epidemiological cross sectional study among elderly patients affected by severe dementia (CDR 3-4-5) and resident in Reggio Emilia care homes, was conducted with the aim of: -assessing pain prevalence using the PAINAD observational scale, while the patients are at rest or carrying out potentially painful activities; -evaluating the percentage of patients on antalgic treatment during the assessment; -raising the awareness of doctors and nurses; -estimate the level of health workers' knowledge of pain management for elderly dementia patients. Results The results of this study showed a significant increase in the amount of pain felt by patients while performing potentially painful activities. Of the patients assessed, a considerable number were not on any antalgic treatment at the time of the assessment. More than 20% had received pain treatment with generic, non-pain specific indications, while performing the activities.
2015
5 (suppl1)
141
141
Monica, Cervi; Stefano, Mastrangelo; Sergio, Cecchella; Michele, Bagnasco; Marcello, Gangale; Francesca, Reggiani; Roberta, Boiardi; Bargellini, Annalisa
Pain assessment in elderly patients affected by severe dementia / Monica, Cervi; Stefano, Mastrangelo; Sergio, Cecchella; Michele, Bagnasco; Marcello, Gangale; Francesca, Reggiani; Roberta, Boiardi; Bargellini, Annalisa. - In: CLINICAL HEALTH PROMOTION. - ISSN 2226-5864. - ELETTRONICO. - 5 (suppl1):(2015), pp. 141-141. (Intervento presentato al convegno 23rd International Conference on Health Promoting Hospitals and Health Services "Person-oriented health promotion in a rapidly changing world: Co-production – continuity – new media & technologies" tenutosi a Oslo, Norway nel June 10-12, 2015).
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11380/1069134
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