The use of a chronic pain diary in older people.

This article describes clinical data retrieved using a chronic pain diary in older people residing in a nursing home. Twenty-one diary entries provided the information necessary to formulate an effective plan of care. Residents reported duration of pain, pain at rest, pain with movement, number and location of pain sites, and pain descriptors. Although estimates of chronic pain among nursing home residents range from 4480%, the nursing home participating in this project reported 0% persistent or chronic pain. Diary entries revealed that 17% of communicative residents reported chronic pain. Data showed that a majority of participants experienced pain with movement. They experienced pain an average of 11 hours a day and lower limbs and hips were the most prevalent sites, and residents averaged three pain sites. The dominant pain descriptors used were 'achy' and 'exhausting'.