title: [Pain and pain-assessment in nursing homes : Results of the OSiA study].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adequate and sufficient data on pain in nursing home residents is still lacking in Austria. This study intends to gather and increase available data on pain and pain assessment as well as identify potential improvement possibilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a cross-sectional design, 425 residents from 12 Austrian nursing homes were recruited. The selected homes were selected as a cluster sample from 29 homes operated by one carrier. Pain assessment of cognitively intact as well as cognitively impaired residents was conducted using questionnaires, observation, and medical record examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pain prevalence was dependent on type of resident and ranged between 37.9 and 73.1 %. Sensitivity of the proxy assessment instruments varied between 47.7 and 87.7 %. Overall, 81 % of residents with daily recurring pain have been pain sufferers for at least one year. Between 40 and 68 % do not disclose their pain or consider their pain as being a part of aging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data on pain indicate a definite need for action. Accurately detecting pain requires reliable and resident-adapted means of assessment. Varying prevalence, specificity, and sensitivity numbers indicate the need for further research.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pflegewissenschaft und -praxis, Paracelsus Medizinische Privatuniversität, Strubergasse 21, 5020, Salzburg, Österreich, maria.magdalena.schreier@pmu.ac.at.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Schreier
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Stering
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pitzer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Iglseder
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Osterbrink
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification; D000368:Aged; D001317:Austria; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*