Acute pain reduction strategies used by well older adults

Int J Nurs Stud. 1998 Oct;35(5):265-70. doi: 10.1016/s0020-7489(98)00039-x.

Abstract

Thirty older adults, without chronic pain, were interviewed about the acute pain reduction strategies that they used at home and strategies that they might use if hospitalized. Verbatim transcripts from the audiotapes were content analyzed. Successful pain reduction strategies included taking a mild analgesic and positioning. If hospitalized, 16 (53.3%) would request analgesics; four (13.3%) would talk with a health care provider; five (16.7%) would continue their own pain reduction strategies; four (13.3%) provided no pain reduction strategies. Results suggest that many older adults possess pain reduction strategies that may be helpful to incorporate in their pain management when hospitalized.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pain / nursing*
  • Pain Management*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires