NursPainPrevent: A Prospective Observational Study on Pain During a Bed Bath

Abstract

Background: Although bed baths are known to cause pain, the engendered pain frequency and intensity remain poorly studied. This prospective, observational study was undertaken to examine prospectively, on a given day, patients' bed bath-associated pain in the general in-hospital population.

Methods: Eight external investigators observed 166 bed baths given in 23 units in 5 hospitals. Using validated assessment scales specific to the patients' clinical situations, they established pain scores.

Results: Expert observers rated bed bath-induced pain as moderate-to-severe for 48% of the patients, among whom 51.9% had not received prophylactic analgesia prior to the procedure. Only 7.2% benefited from evaluation with a validated pain scale. Astute attention-distraction techniques were applied to shift attention during 16.8% of the bed baths. Caregivers used verbal guidance for 85% of the procedures, and adapted touch and rhythm of the gestures for 84.3%.

Conclusion: Bed baths generate moderate-to-severe pain intensity. Evaluation and recourse to analgesia remain insufficient despite caregivers' attention accorded to patient comfort and positioning.

Clinical implications: The results of this study could contribute to sensitizing professionals to preventing pain linked with routine nursing care. Four axes for improvement were highlighted: evaluation improvement, analgesia, nonpharmacological approaches, and adapted mobilization techniques.

Keywords: Acute pain; Bed bath; Pain; Practical nursing; Procedural pain.