[Chronic pain related to AIDS: perspective of nurses and doctors]

The objective was to identify the features and the management of chronic pain associated to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) from the perspective of nurses and doctors. Qualitative study conducted at a reference hospital in Fortaleza- CE, Brazil, with 20 professionals. It was applied semi-structured interview and the speeches were analyzed using content analysis of Bardin, emerging three categories: Characterization of pain, Clinical evaluation of pain and Clinical care of pain. It was found that pain in AIDS manifests itself as persistent, disabling, with difficult control, and its management based on accurate identification of the causal factors and on implementation of pharmacological and non pharmacological treatment offered by the interdisciplinary team. The study provides relevant data on pain in AIDS patients, demonstrating the need to rethink the model of care management interventions to promote greater efficacy of analgesia and to improve interdisciplinary approach to pain for better pain evaluation and treatment.