Bioscience Journal (Aug 2018)

Chronic pain and analgesic use in hospitalized elderly

  • Karoline Faria de Oliveira,
  • Mariana Pereira Carvalho,
  • Ariane Mendonça Neves,
  • Jordânia Lumênia Tavares,
  • Rejane Cussi Assunção Lemos,
  • Alisson Fernandes Bolina,
  • Luana Foroni Andrade,
  • Elizabeth Barichello,
  • Rosalina Aparecida Partezani Rodrigues,
  • Maria Helena Barbosa

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14393/BJ-v34n1a2018-38390
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 34, no. 4

Abstract

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To evaluate the chronic pain and analgesic use in elderly patients admitted to a teaching hospital. Cross-sectional, observational, non-experimental study with 100 elderly. Instruments for collection of demographic and health data, the Mc Gill evaluation scale and intensity of pain were used. The mean age was 71.1 years (SD + 7.4) and females prevailed in the sample (52%); 78% of the respondents reported severe pain and 68% reported using painkillers. Pain was characterized as sensitive and stabbing (44%), choking (39%), unbearable (40%) and nauseating (49%). The findings of this study indicate a high chronic pain index and point to the need to create multidisciplinary programs of interventions focused on the evaluation and treatment of this symptom among hospitalized elderly.

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