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Evaluating the impact of positional changes on pain in stroke patients unable to communicate verbally in the
1Department of Anesthesia, Bandırma Training and Research Hospital, Balıkesir, Türkiye.
Background:
This study aims to determine the effect of position changes on pain in stroke patients who are unable to communicate verbally in the intensive care unit (ICU).
Patients And Methods:
Between August 2021 and February 2022, a total of 129 stroke patients who were unable to communicate verbally in the ICU were included in this cross-sectional study. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Critical Care Observation Tool (CPOT), Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS), Motor Activity Assessment Scale (MAAS).
Results:
Of a total of 129 patients included in the study, 56 were male and 73 were female with a mean age of 73.5±11.2 (range, 45 to 92) years. There was a significant difference in conditions such as heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation value, changes in pupils, sweating, nausea-vomiting, and pallor-redness on the skin before, during, and after the position change (p < 0.05). In the multiple comparisons, the values before and after the intervention were lower than the values during the position change. There was a significant relationship between CPOT, BPS and MAAS in the study (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Stroke patients in the ICU who are unable to communicate verbally experience pain associated with position changes, as evidenced by both behavioral responses and physiological alterations. In-service training programs should be organized for intensive care nurses to enhance their ability to recognize and evaluate pain-related behaviors.
