Pain Assessment for Adult Patients Admitted to Coronary Care Units in Al - hilla Teaching Hospitals, Babylon – Iraq

Abstract

Background: Pain considered as a significant problem for critically ill patients, pain assessment is essential to
reach optimal level of quality of care. Nurses play a critical role in managing and alleviating acute pain among
critically ill adult patients. Objectives: To assess the level of pain of critically ill adult patients who were
admitted to the coronary care units in Al-hilla teaching hospitals. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional
study design selected to assess pain for critically ill patients who were admitted to coronary care units in Al-
hilla teaching hospitals was conducted from October 2016 through August 2017. Non-probability (purposive)
sample consisted of 92 patients selected, structured questionnaire which consist five parts were prepared in
order to collect the data. The statistical package version 22 was used to analyze the data. Results: Male
patients were predominated, the majority age group of participants were (41 to 65) years constituted 62%
most of them were married with low level of education, regarding smoking habit 52% of them were smokers.
High proportion of patients 83.7% had frequent bouts of pain while 35.9% were suffering from persistent pain;
the most associated symptom with pain was drowsiness (77.2%). About two third of the participants preferred
to use medications to control their pain, according to McGill questionnaire the mean score of pain intensity for
the study sample was severe (2.50). Conclusion: Pain still unresolved problem among adult patients admitted
to the coronary care units in Al hilla teaching hospitals who recorded severe pain, which accompanied with
associated symptoms such as drowsiness. Recommendation: There is a need for focused continuous
education and training program to important the health personnel's practice and knowledge regarding pain
assessment and management.
Keywords: Pain Assessment, Adults Patients, Critical care units, McGill Pain Questionnaire.