Pain management in non-oncological older adult patients in the palliative pase

Abstract

Introduction: Pain is associated with tissue damage, which includes behaviors and emotions that lead to both physical and cognitive dependence, requiring management to provide better care, reducing the suffering of the patients and relatives. Objective: To determine pain management by nursing staff in non-oncological older adult patients in the palliative phase. Methods: The investigation corresponds to a quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional study. The population was 80 nurses from the from Public Hospital. It was collected through surveys with 12 questions with likert scale, divided into 5 dimensions: pain assessment, medication administration, purpose of medication administration, work of the nursing staff, and knowledge. Results: The nursing staff states that 71.3% perform pain assessment, 63.8% administer medication at fixed times, 66.3% observe the patient being satisfied, 67.5% assess side effects and 75% affirm that morphine it is used in chronic pain. Conclusions: Professional interventions for pain management in non-oncological older adult patients in the palliative phase are favorable, the majority constantly apply the care to reduce pain, however, it is necessary to expand their knowledge according to with administered medication.