Prevalence and management of pain in patients: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES: Improved management of pain, particularly in inpatients, is a p ublic health priority. We conducted this study to ascertain current practic es and identify indications useful for measuring their impact. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A "given dag cross-sectional study was conducted in 1 8 units (11 medicine units and 7 surgery and obstetrics units) at the Cochi n Hospital, Paris. All patients hospitalized over 24 hours were included in the study. A short one-page questionnaire was administered by an investiga tor (nurse or physician) after the patient agreed to participate in the stu dy. Ail pertinent information concerning pain at admission and/or during th e 24 hours of hospitalization (quantified on a simple verbal scale), percen t pain relief compared with the initial level, and any circumstances leadin g to an increase in the pain level during hospitalization were recorded. Da ta were also collected on antalgesia prescription administered the day of t he survey. Social and demographic data as well as discharge diagnosis(es) w ere also recorded. RESULTS: Nearly 60% of the patients stated they had experienced pain at the time of admission or during the 24-h preceding the survey. in medicine uni ts, 29% of the inpatients with pain were not given any anti-pain treatment (this percentage was 12% in surgery) and 35% stated their pain had been rel ieved by less than 50% (13% of the patients in surgery). Hospitalization in a medicine unit was associated with fewer and less effective prescriptions in patients experiencing pain. CONCLUSION: Regular and simple indications, specifically the number of pati ent complaining of pain who have not been given an antalgesic, would provid e the health care team with a measurement of pain management useful for ass essing its impact and improving patient care.