Description of pressure ulcer pain at rest and at dressing change

Abstract

Purpose: To describe and compare the pain experienced by patients with stage II, III, and IV pressure ulcers both at rest and during dressing change.

Patients and setting: Thirty-two subjects were recruited from acute, extended, and home care settings in the Midwest. The sample population ranged in age from 47 to 95 years (mean age 74.7 years, SD = 12.8), were white, and evenly divided between male and female patients.

Methods: Patients used the McGill Pain Questionnaire to rate their pressure ulcer pain at rest and again at dressing change.

Results: Twenty-eight subjects (87.5%) reported pain at dressing change and 27 (84.4%) experienced pain at rest, compared with 4 (12.5%) subjects who reported no pressure ulcer-related pain. Of the 28 reporting pain, 21 (75%) rated their pain as mild, discomforting, or distressing, and 5 (18%) described their pain as horrible or excruciating. Twelve (42%) reported their pain as continuous, occurring both at rest and during dressing changes. Despite these reports, only 2 (6%) subjects had received medication for their pressure ulcer pain. Although none of the hypotheses were statistically significant, we observed that patients with stage II, III, and IV pressure ulcers experienced pain.

Conclusions: Within this study sample, the majority of patients had pressure ulcer-related pain, which for some was severe and constant. Therefore we conclude that the potential for pressure ulcer-related pain should be anticipated and assessed on a regular basis. In addition, further research is needed to increase our understanding of pressure ulcer pain and to find effective interventions for its relief.