Journal of pain and symptom management
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2005
Pain prevalence in hospitalized patients in a German university teaching hospital.
Forty-eight units were enrolled in a descriptive, cross-sectional study to identify strengths and weaknesses of pain management in a German university teaching hospital. Patients had to be > or =18 years old and able to speak German; intensive care, psychiatric, obstetric and pediatric units were excluded. Structured interviews were conducted by an independent researcher not involved in patient care. ⋯ Sex and age did not influence pain prevalence, pain intensity, or pain therapy. Pain prevalence and intensity in this German university hospital were high and pain therapy was inadequate in many cases. Pain management needs to be improved by continuous assessment and adequate pain medication.