and lead for non-medical prescribing, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, Surrey, England.
Nurs Older People. 2024 Sep 30;36(5):35-42. doi: 10.7748/nop.2024.e1466. Epub 2024 Jul 17.
Pain is a relatively common experience among older people, but unrelieved pain has significant functional, cognitive and emotional consequences for this population. A comprehensive and accurate pain assessment is essential for effective pain management. Self-report tools are suitable to assess pain in older people with normal or mildly impaired cognition, while observational tools are suitable for use with those with significant cognitive impairment or communication difficulties. However, pain assessment in older people can be challenging. The use of one tool on its own is rarely sufficient and it is crucial to involve family carers in assessment of pain in older people with severe cognitive impairment. This article discusses different tools and strategies, including the benefits and limitations, for assessing pain in older people.
疼痛是老年人中较为常见的一种体验，但未得到缓解的疼痛会给这一人群的身体功能、认知和情绪带来严重的后果。全面、准确的疼痛评估是疼痛管理的基础。自我报告工具适用于认知功能正常或轻度受损的老年人，而观察工具则适用于认知功能严重受损或有沟通困难的老年人。但是，老年人的疼痛评估可能具有挑战性。仅使用一种工具通常是不够的，因此在评估认知功能严重受损的老年人的疼痛时，让家属参与评估至关重要。本文讨论了评估老年人疼痛的不同工具和策略，包括其优缺点。
