Observational Pain Assessment Scales for People with Dementia
PAIN
Observational pain assessment scales
Title two-deck for people with dementia: a review
Christine While, Dr Angus Jocelyn
Christine While is Clinical Project Officer, Royal District Nursing Service and Dr Angus Jocelyn is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Arts Education and Human Development, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
Email: cwhile@rdns.com.au
O
lder adults have a higher propensity to experience pain associated with chronic health problems, such as musculoskeletal conditions and peripheral vascular disease (British Pain Society and British
Geriatrics Society, 2007; Epperson and Bonnel, 2004).
Between 25% to 50% of older adults who living in the community experience pain of some significance and often from several sources (American Geriatrics Society, 2002,
British Pain Society/ British Geriatrics Society, 2007).
However, health professionals and carers often fail to notice the presence of pain in those they provide care for, resulting in inconsistent assessment practices with under-treatment of pain (Hadjistavropoulos et al, 2007).
Dementia and the communication of pain
In 2008 it was estimated that world wide there were 30 million people with dementia and it is projected that over the next 42 years these prevalence rates will more than treble to
100 million (Alzheimer’s Disease International, 2008).
Dementia represents a complex interaction of signs and symptoms that occur as a result of damage to the brain that is usually irreversible and progressive in nature. The ensuing changes often have an impact on the person’s ability to successfully communicate pain. The types of symptoms and changes that are experienced by the person
ABSTRACT
Dementia may alter the experience of pain and the ability to communicate it; this will, in turn, result in poor pain detection and inadequate treatment. The aim of this literature review is to identify the observational pain scales that have clinical utility and
Observational pain assessment scales
Title two-deck for people with dementia: a review
Christine While, Dr Angus Jocelyn
Christine While is Clinical Project Officer, Royal District Nursing Service and Dr Angus Jocelyn is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Arts Education and Human Development, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
Email: cwhile@rdns.com.au
O
lder adults have a higher propensity to experience pain associated with chronic health problems, such as musculoskeletal conditions and peripheral vascular disease (British Pain Society and British
Geriatrics Society, 2007; Epperson and Bonnel, 2004).
Between 25% to 50% of older adults who living in the community experience pain of some significance and often from several sources (American Geriatrics Society, 2002,
British Pain Society/ British Geriatrics Society, 2007).
However, health professionals and carers often fail to notice the presence of pain in those they provide care for, resulting in inconsistent assessment practices with under-treatment of pain (Hadjistavropoulos et al, 2007).
Dementia and the communication of pain
In 2008 it was estimated that world wide there were 30 million people with dementia and it is projected that over the next 42 years these prevalence rates will more than treble to
100 million (Alzheimer’s Disease International, 2008).
Dementia represents a complex interaction of signs and symptoms that occur as a result of damage to the brain that is usually irreversible and progressive in nature. The ensuing changes often have an impact on the person’s ability to successfully communicate pain. The types of symptoms and changes that are experienced by the person
ABSTRACT
Dementia may alter the experience of pain and the ability to communicate it; this will, in turn, result in poor pain detection and inadequate treatment. The aim of this literature review is to identify the observational pain scales that have clinical utility and