ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Adequate and sufficient data on pain in nursing home residents is still lacking in Austria. This study intends to gather and increase available data on pain and pain assessment as well as identify potential improvement possibilities. STUDY PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design, 425 residents from 12 Austrian nursing homes were recruited. The selected homes were selected as a cluster sample from 29 homes operated by one carrier. Pain assessment of cognitively intact as well as cognitively impaired residents was conducted using questionnaires, observation, and medical record examination. RESULTS: Pain prevalence was dependent on type of resident and ranged between 37.9 and 73.1 %. Sensitivity of the proxy assessment instruments varied between 47.7 and 87.7 %. Overall, 81 % of residents with daily recurring pain have been pain sufferers for at least one year. Between 40 and 68 % do not disclose their pain or consider their pain as being a part of aging. CONCLUSION: Our data on pain indicate a definite need for action. Accurately detecting pain requires reliable and resident-adapted means of assessment. Varying prevalence, specificity, and sensitivity numbers indicate the need for further research.
