Differences in Pain Management Strategies Between Mobile and Immobile Hospitalized Patients: A Real-World Data...

Area of Science:

• Pain Management
• Patient Mobility
• Hospital-Associated Deconditioning

Background:

• Hospital-associated deconditioning is linked to immobility, with pain as a key contributing factor.
• Immobility exacerbates deconditioning, leading to serious health consequences.
• Understanding pain management differences is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare pain management interventions between mobile and immobile patients.
• To identify disparities in pain treatment based on patient mobility status.
• To inform personalized pain management strategies in hospital settings.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study utilizing real-world data from Austrian hospitals (2021-2023).
• Patients classified as mobile or immobile using the Braden Scale mobility subscale.
• Statistical analyses included chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests (p < 0.05 significance).

Main Results:

• 3214 patients experienced pain; 1661 mobile, 1553 immobile.
• Immobile patients were older, had more comorbidities, and higher care dependency.
• Significant differences in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and pharmacological treatments were observed between groups. Mobile patients showed higher engagement with alternative therapies like acupuncture.

Conclusions:

• Immobile patients predominantly received conventional pain interventions, whereas mobile patients were more associated with alternative therapies.
• Healthcare professional awareness and personalized pain management strategies are essential to address these treatment disparities.
• Future research should explore decision-making processes and include pain intensity/location for a comprehensive understanding.