A prospective audit project into the adequacy of pain assessment in the medical and surgical wards in a North London District General Hospital.

BACKGROUND

Accurate assessment of pain is associated with improved pain management, which can lead to better patient outcomes. It has been recommended that all patients have their pain assessed and the scores documented as the 'fifth vital sign'.

METHOD

All inpatients in the medical and surgical wards in our hospital were asked directly to score their pain according to the hospital-wide scoring system. Their observation charts and drug charts were then reviewed in order to determine the accuracy of documented pain assessments and the subsequent analgesic management.

RESULTS

Of the 208 patients reviewed, 20 (15%) patients on medical wards and 26 (38%) patients on surgical wards were in moderate to severe pain. Documentation of pain scores was not universal, with 29 (14%) patients having no score documented with their last set of observations. Of those with a score recorded, it was not found to correlate with the scores reported on direct questioning in 41% of medical patients and 71% of surgical patients. Provision of analgesia was also found to differ between medical and surgical wards.

DISCUSSION

The care of pain in the wards falls below the standards set by the Royal College of Anaesthetists. It is necessary to undertake a programme of education to increase awareness of the problem and to improve assessment and management to enhance the patient experience.