Pain Assessment for Elderly Patients with Dementia Performed by General Ward Nurses

Abstract

  The present study aimed to clarify the details of pain assessment of elderly patients with dementia performed by general ward nurses. Semi-structured interviews with seven general ward nurses were conducted, and as a result, 8 categories and 30 subcategories were identified. In performing assessments, the nurses focused on the state of the individual concerning: (1) identifying changes in the expressions, speech, and behavior of the elderly patient with dementia, (2) identifying changes in the physical condition of the elderly patient with dementia, (3) identifying changes in activities of daily life of the elderly patient with dementia, and (4) identifying the presence or absence, and extent of behavioral symptoms specific to dementia. Furthermore, the nurses made assessments by using assessment methods such as (5) identifying the site and extent of pain by using verbal interactions and techniques of touching, and (6) evaluating changes in pain with the use of analgesics. The nurses also used information sharing for the assessment, such as by (7) evaluating pain by sharing information among individuals who are close to and trusted by the elderly patient, and (8) evaluating pain and predicting the development of pain by sharing information among nurses. It was suggested that these results are useful for the assessment of pain in elderly patients with dementia.