Recognition of pain in geriatric patients via an interdisciplinary team: Confidence of judgement and influincing factors

The prevalence of chronic pain increases with age. The awareness of pain in geriatric patients is more difficult than in younger people because of var ious reasons. The occupational groups of the geriatric team might be differ ent in respect of discerning symptoms of pain. 126 geriatric patients were enrolled in this study. They were asked if they had pain today and in the last seven days. At the same time the members of the geriatric team (old people's nurses, nurses, physicians, physio-, occu pational and speech therapists) were asked the same questions with respect of their patients. Items possible influencing the answers were recorded: pa tient's characteristics: age, cognition (Folstein's mini-mental state) and duration of hospital stay before this interview; employee's characteristics : age, days of care in the past 7 days, weekly working hours, occupational years and years working in this geriatric hospital. The judgement of the geriatric team varied widely. It was dependent on the profession, days of care, weekly working hours and professional experience. Changes of care in the last 7 days have an negative effec in all occupatio nal groups. Other features will be discussed in details. The handing of the patient's pain should be improved within the occupational groups.