Wound care pain in hospitalized adult patients

Stotts, Nancy A.; Puntillo, Kathleen; Bonham Morris, Ann; Stanik-Hutt, Julie; Thompson, Carol Lynn; White, Cheri; Reitman Wild, Lorie

doi:10.1016/j.hrtlng.2004.04.001

« Previous Next »Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care
Volume 33, Issue 5 , Pages 321-332, September 2004

Wound care pain in hospitalized adult patients

Nancy A. Stotts, RN, EdD (FAAN)
- University of California San Francisco, School of Nursing,^aSan Francisco, California, USA
- Reprint requests: Nancy Stotts, RN, EdD, FAAN, UCSF, School of Nursing, 2 Koret Way 631, San Francisco, CA 94143-0610 USA
Kathleen Puntillo, RN, DNSc (FAAN)
- University of California San Francisco, School of Nursing,^aSan Francisco, California, USA
Ann Bonham Morris, RN, MSN, CPNP
- University of California San Francisco, School of Nursing,^aSan Francisco, California, USA
Julie Stanik-Hutt, RN, PhD, ACNP
- University of California San Francisco, School of Nursing,^aSan Francisco, California, USA
Carol Lynn Thompson, PhD, CCRN, ACNP, CCNS
- University of California San Francisco, School of Nursing,^aSan Francisco, California, USA
Cheri White, RN, PhD, CCRN
- University of California San Francisco, School of Nursing,^aSan Francisco, California, USA
Lorie Reitman Wild, RN, PhD
- University of California San Francisco, School of Nursing,^aSan Francisco, California, USA

Abstract

Background

Wound care (WC) is an important part of treatment for hospitalized patients with wounds. There is a paucity of data about the type or amount of pain patients experience during WC.

Objectives

The purpose of this study is to describe patients’ (n = 412) WC-related pain perceptions and responses, examine the relationships between patients’ WC pain and demographic variables, and describe the distress associated with WC.

Methods

A repeated-measures design was used to examine pain before, during, and after WC in hospitalized patients (n = 412) with wounds healing by secondary intention.

Results

Pain intensity was greatest during WC. It was most frequently described as tender, sharp, stinging, aching, and stabbing. Behaviors that occurred most often were no verbal response, no body movement, grimace, and complaints of pain. There were no differences in pain between genders. Nonwhites had significantly greater WC pain than whites. Pain during the procedure was the same in younger and older patients, and procedural distress was mild.

Conclusion

Patients experience pain and distress with WC. Some behaviors and words consistently describe WC pain. Further work is warranted to refine pain assessment and management in patients undergoing WC procedures.