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Improving screening for chronic pain in older adults: a quality improvement project
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Husak, Halyna. Improving screening for chronic pain in older adults: a quality improvement project. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-g0wd-q981

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TitleImproving screening for chronic pain in older adults: a quality improvement project
NameHusak, Halyna (author); Bagchi, Ann (chair); Barberio, Judith (member); Rutgers University; RBHS School of Nursing
Date Created2022
Other Date2022-05 (degree)
SubjectNursing, Chronic pain, Screening for chronic pain, Older adults, Geriatric
Extent70 pages : illustrations
DescriptionPurpose of Project: Undiagnosed and untreated chronic pain can negatively affect many aspects of a person’s life, including physical, mental, social, and financial. Despite chronic pain being one of the most commonly occurring health problems in adults who are 65 years and older, it continues to be underdiagnosed and undertreated in this patient population. The purpose of the project was to implement a chronic pain screening protocol and increase chronic pain screening rates in older adults on a geriatric unit.

Methodology: Design: Quality improvement project with retrospective and prospective chart reviews. Setting: Geriatric unit at a non-profit, teaching hospital in central New Jersey. Sample: 19 registered nurses. Study Interventions: Implementation of a chronic pain screening protocol, retrospective and prospective chart reviews, and open discussion for project evaluation. Measurable outcomes: Pre- and post-implementation chronic pain screening rates.

Results: Fisher’s exact test showed that there was no change in chronic pain screening rates after implementation of the project (p-value= 1.000). Forty-nine percent (n=18) of older patients in the preintervention phase were screened for chronic pain and 49% (n=19) of older patients were screened in the post-intervention phase.

Implications for Practice: The quality improvement project demonstrated that less than half of older adults admitted to the geriatric unit are screened for chronic pain. Implementation of the chronic pain screening protocol did not affect screening rates. Chronic pain leads to many negative consequences in affected people. There is a continued need for projects that increase screening rates for chronic pain in older adults. Increased screening for chronic pain can potentially improve identification and management of chronic pain, leading to better patient outcomes and decreased negative consequences.
NoteD.N.P.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
Genretheses
Persistent URLhttps://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-g0wd-q981
LanguageEnglish
CollectionSchool of Nursing (RBHS) DNP Projects
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.
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