Alodhialah Abdulaziz M, Almutairi Ashwaq A, Almutairi Mohammed
Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, College of Nursing, King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia.
School of Nursing & Midwifery, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia.
Healthcare (Basel). 2024 Oct 18;12(20):2078. doi: 10.3390/healthcare12202078.
Chronic pain is prevalent among the elderly and significantly affects their quality of life (QoL). Pain intensity scales are crucial tools in evaluating the severity of pain and tailoring management strategies. This study investigates the relationship between various pain intensity scales and QoL among elderly patients with chronic pain, highlighting the implications for nursing practice.
A cross-sectional study was conducted with 150 elderly patients (aged 65 and above) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Participants were assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) alongside the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) to evaluate QoL. Data analysis involved Pearson correlation and multiple regression to explore the association of pain intensity on QoL.
All pain scales showed significant negative correlations with QoL. The MPQ exhibited a significant association, suggesting its comprehensive nature captures the multidimensional association of pain more effectively. Regression analysis identified pain intensity, age, and duration of chronic pain as significant predictors of reduced QoL.
The findings emphasize the importance of selecting appropriate pain assessment tools that reflect the complex nature of pain in elderly patients. Implementing comprehensive pain assessments like the MPQ can enhance individualized care strategies and potentially improve the QoL in this population. This study underscores the role of nurses in optimizing pain management approaches tailored to the elderly.
慢性疼痛在老年人中普遍存在，严重影响他们的生活质量（QoL）。疼痛强度量表是评估疼痛严重程度和制定管理策略的关键工具。本研究调查了老年慢性疼痛患者中各种疼痛强度量表与生活质量之间的关系，突出了其对护理实践的意义。
在沙特阿拉伯利雅得对150名65岁及以上的老年患者进行了一项横断面研究。使用数字评分量表（NRS）、视觉模拟量表（VAS）和麦吉尔疼痛问卷（MPQ）对参与者进行评估，同时使用36项简短健康调查（SF - 36）来评估生活质量。数据分析采用Pearson相关性分析和多元回归分析，以探讨疼痛强度与生活质量之间的关联。
所有疼痛量表均与生活质量呈显著负相关。MPQ表现出显著相关性，表明其综合性更有效地捕捉了疼痛的多维度关联。回归分析确定疼痛强度、年龄和慢性疼痛持续时间是生活质量下降的显著预测因素。
研究结果强调了选择合适的疼痛评估工具的重要性，这些工具应反映老年患者疼痛的复杂性。实施像MPQ这样的全面疼痛评估可以加强个性化护理策略，并有可能改善该人群的生活质量。本研究强调了护士在优化针对老年人的疼痛管理方法中的作用。
