Improving Pain Management in the Intensive Care Unit by Assessment.

Purpose: Patients in the intensive care unit suffer from pain caused by life-threatening illness or injury but also treatments such as surgery and nursing procedures such as venipuncture. Unconsciousness following head trauma or sedation stage complicates self-report, and both under- and over-management of pain can occur. Inadequate assessment and treatment might follow from unsuitable pain assessment practices.

The effect of a music-based caregiving intervention on pain intensity in nursing home patients with dementia: a cluster-randomized controlled study.

Treatment of chronic pain in patients with dementia is challenging because they have reduced ability to report pain and are particularly vulnerable to side effects of analgesics. Different types of music-based therapy have been recommended and are used as an alternative to analgesics, but the evidence is lacking. Therefore, we performed a cluster-randomized controlled study (RCT) to reduce pain intensity using music-based caregiving (MBC) over 8 weeks in nursing home patients with dementia and chronic pain.

Chronic pain conditions and use of analgesics among nursing home patients with dementia.

Pain management for patients with dementia is challenging because many experience pain while being unable to communicate their pain. The aim of this study was to describe pain, pain management, and to perform a thorough clinical examination of chronic pain conditions among patients with dementia. Residents (n = 498) from 12 nursing homes were assessed for dementia (Clinical Dementia Rating scale [CDR]) and for pain with the Mobilization-Observation-Behavior-Intensity-Dementia-2 (MOBID-2) assessment form.

Return to work after coronary artery bypass grafting and aortic valve replacement surgery: A scoping review.

Background: Coronary artery bypass grafting surgery and aortic valve replacement surgery are essential treatment options for people suffering from angina pectoris or aortic valve disease. Surgery aims to prolong life expectancy, improve quality of life, and facilitate participation in society for the individuals afflicted. The aim of this review was to explore the literature on work participation in patients following coronary artery bypass grafting or aortic valve replacement surgery, and to identify demographic and clinical characteristics associated with returning to work.

Quality of life among cancer inpatients 80 years and older: a systematic review.

Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to summarize and assess the literature on quality of life (QoL) among cancer patients 80 years and older admitted to hospitals and what QoL instruments have been used.

Methods: We searched systematically in Medline, Embase and Cinahl. Eligibility criteria included studies with any design measuring QoL among cancer patients 80 years and older hospitalized for treatment (surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy).

The Negative Impact of Psychotropic Drug Use on Quality of Life in Nursing Home Patients at Different Stages of Dementia: Cross-Sectional Analyses from the COSMOS Trial.

Objectives: The quality of life (QoL) in nursing home (NH) patients with dementia is threatened by neuropsychiatric symptoms. This may trigger the use of psychotropic drugs, yet it is unknown if this practice improves the QoL. We investigated the association between the number of psychotropic drugs and QoL at different stages of dementia, adjusted for neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Pain relief from nonpharmacological interventions in the intensive care unit: A scoping review.

Aims And Objectives: To describe what is known from the existing literature on nonpharmacological interventions targeting pain in patients admitted to the ICU.

Background: Patients receiving intensive care nursing are exposed to a wide range of pain provoking tissue damage, diseases, surgery and other medical procedures in addition to the pain caused by nursing care procedures. The present shift to light sedation to improve patient outcomes and comfort underscores the need for effective pain management.

Signs of Imminent Dying and Change in Symptom Intensity During Pharmacological Treatment in Dying Nursing Home Patients: A Prospective Trajectory Study.

Objectives: To investigate whether it is possible to determine signs of imminent dying and change in pain and symptom intensity during pharmacological treatment in nursing home patients, from day perceived as dying and to day of death.

Design: Prospective, longitudinal trajectory trial.

Setting: Forty-seven nursing homes within 35 municipalities of Norway.

Analgesic prescribing patterns in Norwegian nursing homes from 2000 to 2011: trend analyses of four data samples.

Background: the analgesic drug use has been reported to increase in general in nursing home patients. However, there is insufficient evidence in terms of what agents are used, variations of use over time and to whom these drugs are prescribed.

Objective: we investigated the prescribing patterns of scheduled analgesic drugs in Norwegian nursing home patients from 2000 to 2011, with the association to age, gender, cognitive function and type of nursing home unit.

Efficacy of treating pain to reduce behavioural disturbances in residents of nursing homes with dementia: cluster randomised clinical trial.

Objective: To determine whether a systematic approach to the treatment of pain can reduce agitation in people with moderate to severe dementia living in nursing homes.

Design: Cluster randomised controlled trial.

Setting: 60 clusters (single independent nursing home units) in 18 nursing homes within five municipalities of western Norway.