[Pain management in nursing care in outpatient older adults in need of care].

Pain management in nursing care in outpatient older adults in need of care International data report a prevalence rate for chronic pain of up to 50 % in community dwelling older adults (> 65 years). A national study reported a prevalence rate of 68,5 % among outpatient adults (≥ 18 years). Nursing care has an important meaning in pain management. However, previous research on the quality of pain management in nursing care is insufficient. The aim of this study is to evaluate the appropriateness of pain management in nursing care in our target group. The cross-sectional study is based on data from . The study comprises 219 patients. Information on subjective pain experience and pain management were obtained by face-to-face interviews and nursing documentation. Our findings indicate considerable deficits in terms of pain management in nursing care. Results show a lack of systematic pain assessment as well as missing documentation of therapeutic aims and pain management in nursing care. The identified deficits might be the result of current framework conditions that separate nursing pain treatment in Volume V and Volume XI of the German Social Security Code services. Appropriateness in pain management in nursing care can only be ensured if framework conditions are optimized.