title: [Pain assessment in routine care : A prospective observational study in an orthopedic unit].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although well-established guidelines give advice on how to use analgesics, measure pain, and organize pain treatment, many patients still suffer from avoidable severe pain. We assume one reason for this is that pain is inadequately addressed in routine patient contacts. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the extent to which pain was addressed during patient contacts in routine orthopedic care.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective observational study in an orthopedic unit of a university hospital, we invited physicians and nurses during their routine patient contacts to be observed by independent, trained monitors. The monitors systematically assessed all pain-related aspects, which were analyzed descriptively afterwards.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The monitors documented 572 physician-patient contacts with 7 physicians and 108 patients and 578 nurse-patient contacts with 12 nurses and 102 patients. Physicians and nurses asked their patients about pain in 20 and 16 % of the patient contacts, respectively. While in physician-patient contacts, patients most frequently addressed their current pain situation (in 35 % of contacts), in nurse-patient contacts, patients most frequently addressed their need for analgesics (52 %). Patients rated their pain intensity in 16 % of physician-patient contacts vs. 17 % of nurse-patient contacts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using a comprehensive external monitoring procedure, we found that systematic pain assessment was not optimally standardized and implemented for systematic, individualized pain therapy by physicians or nurses in our routine care setting.
authors: Zentrum für Arzneimittelsicherheit, Universität Leipzig und Universitätsklinikum Leipzig AöR, Eilenburger Str. 15a, 04317, Leipzig, Deutschland.|Abteilung für Klinische Pharmazie, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Deutschland.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Schiek
authors: Klinik und Poliklinik für Orthopädie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig AöR, Leipzig, Deutschland.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Ghanem
authors: Zentrum für Arzneimittelsicherheit, Universität Leipzig und Universitätsklinikum Leipzig AöR, Eilenburger Str. 15a, 04317, Leipzig, Deutschland.|Krankenhausapotheke, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig AöR, Leipzig, Deutschland.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Frontini
authors: Klinik und Poliklinik für Anästhesiologie und Intensivtherapie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig AöR, Leipzig, Deutschland.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Hertel
authors: Klinik und Poliklinik für Orthopädie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig AöR, Leipzig, Deutschland.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: von Salis-Soglio
authors: Zentrum für Arzneimittelsicherheit, Universität Leipzig und Universitätsklinikum Leipzig AöR, Eilenburger Str. 15a, 04317, Leipzig, Deutschland. thilo.bertsche@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.|Abteilung für Klinische Pharmazie, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Deutschland. thilo.bertsche@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Bertsche
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D057189:Checklist; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009985:Orthopedics; D010146:Pain / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care
keywords: Nurses; Pain management; Pain measurement; Physicians; Quality of health care