Coping with the pain of elderly pain patients: Nursing approach

This study was designed to examine methods used by elderly patients to cope with pain and serve as a guide for nurses.

This descriptive survey was carried out with geriatric patients (n=100) aged 60 years or more in inpatient Algology Unit of a university hospital between November 28, 2014 and January 28, 2015. Data were collected using descriptive characteristics questionnaire prepared based on review of the literature and via one-on-one interviews using Pain Coping Questionnaire (PCQ). Data were evaluated using descriptive statistical methods, Independent sample t-test, one-way analysis of variance test, and Pearson correlation coefficient.

Duration of pain experienced by the patients ranged from 1 month to 40 years, with mean duration of 63.57±82.65 months. Mean subscale scores of PCQ were: self-management, 19.22±6.54; helplessness, 13.45±3.86; conscious coping efforts, 11.90±3.97; and medical remedies, 12.62±3.98. Score of the patients who reported that they could manage their pain on their own (p<0.05), and of those who relied on medical remedies, believing that pain control is in the hands of nurses (p<0.05), were significantly higher.

Means of coping with pain vary in geriatric patients and it is recommended that these differences be taken into account in nursing interventions.