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Pain assessment and management in aging
Mimi Hanks-Bell1, Kathleen Halvey, Judith A Paice
1University of Washington School of Nursing undergraduate and graduate programs, USA.
Online Journal of Issues in Nursing
|October 16, 2004
Summary
Pain is common in older adults but often undertreated due to various barriers. Effective pain management requires thorough assessment and a combination of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Pain Management
- Public Health
Background:
- Chronic pain affects a majority of older adults, often without an underlying disease.
- Undertreatment of pain in this population is prevalent due to systemic and patient-related barriers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the prevalence and consequences of undertreated pain in older adults.
- To emphasize the importance of comprehensive pain assessment and management strategies for the elderly.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on pain in older adults.
- Discussion of barriers to adequate pain management.
- Outline of assessment techniques and treatment modalities.
Main Results:
- Older adults face significant barriers to pain treatment, including healthcare professional education gaps and patient reluctance.
- Unrelieved pain leads to severe functional, cognitive, emotional, and societal consequences.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare providers must recognize and address the unique pain-related needs of older adults.
- A multimodal approach combining pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions is crucial for effective pain control in the elderly.