title: Pain Assessment and Management in Critically ill Intubated Patients in Jordan: A Prospective Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to describe: (1) pain indicators used by nurses and physicians to assess pain, (2) pain management interventions (pharmacological and non-pharmacological) used by nurses, and (3) indicators used by nurses to verify pain intervention effectiveness.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 301 medical records of currently admitted patients from six different ICUs in Jordan were reviewed using a data collection instrument developed by Gélinas et al. (2004) Pain-related indicators were classified into non-observable (patient's self-reports of pain) and observable (physiological and behavioral) categories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 105 (35%) of a total 301 reviewed medical records contained pain assessment data. From these medical records, 15 pain episodes were collected altogether. Observable indicators documented 98% of the 115 pain episodes. Patients' self-reports of pain were documented only 1.7% of the time. In 78% and 46% of the 115 pain episodes, pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions for pain management were documented, respectively. Only 37% of the pain episodes were reassessed with self- report (1%) and observable indicators (36%) to determine the effectiveness of the interventions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pain documentation for assessment, management, and reassessment was lacking and needs improvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Science/Nursing, Al-Balqa' Applied University (Ajloun University College), Al-Salt, Jordan.
authors.forename: Shahnaz Mohammad
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ayasrah
authors.affiliation: Our Lady of Holy Cross College, 4123 Woodland Drive, New Orleans, LA 70131.
authors.forename: Teresa Mary
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing/The University of Jordan.
authors.forename: Maysoon Saleem
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Abdalrahim
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing/The University of Jordan.
authors.forename: Manal Mohammed
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sutary
authors.affiliation: Al-Balqa' Applied University (Al- Salt University College).
authors.forename: Muna Suliman
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kharabsheh
keywords: Pain assessment; Pain management; critically ill; intubated patients