Question

Pain often goes unrecognized and untreated because it is patient subjective.

1. What factors influence a patient’s response to pain?

2. What are the components of the nursing assessment for pain?

3. What considerations should be given to an older patient when prescribing pain medication?

Answer 1

Ans) 1) Some factors identified influencing pain perception includes age, culture, anxiety, meaning of pain, fatigue, previous experience, attention and distraction, family and support system and neurological status of the individuals.

2) Components of pain assessment include:

a) history and physical assessment;

b) functional assessment;

c) psychosocial assessment;

d) multidimensional assessment

3) Drug-related problems are common in older adults and include drug ineffectiveness, adverse drug effects, overdosage, underdosage, and drug interactions.

- For pain refractory to NSAIDs, or pain rated as moderate initially, a weaker opioid (eg, codeine) is the appropriate first choice. Other weak opioids that may be used include hydrocodone, propoxyphene, and oxycodone in combination with acetaminophen.