A survey of pain assessment practices among clinicians working in Uganda’s Intensive Care Units

Abstract

Background: Critically ill patients often experience pain, and it's up to doctors and nurses to manage it effectively. Therefore, it's essential to evaluate pain assessment practices as they directly impact the quality of pain management provided to these patients. No research has been conducted on how doctors and nurses in Uganda document their pain assessment practices. Studying these practices will allow us to pinpoint areas that need improvement and create specific measures to enhance pain assessment and management quality. Aim of the study: This study aimed to investigate the pain assessment practices of doctors and nurses working in Uganda's Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Research design: A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed. Research question: What are the pain assessment practices of clinicians working in Uganda's ICUs? Setting: Selected ICUs in rural and urban settings in Uganda. Sample: Data was collected from 250 patient files. Results: The results revealed that most ICU patients (78%) did not undergo pain assessments by clinicians. Of the patients who received pain assessments, only 14% had their pain assessments documented using a proper pain assessment method. Conclusion: The study's findings underscore the need for enhancing pain assessment practices among clinicians working in Uganda's ICUs. Improving pain assessment is crucial for providing appropriate pain management and reducing the burden of untreated pain experienced by ICU patients. Pain assessment enhances pain management in ICUs which is essential for ensuring better quality of care and bettering the lives of critically ill patients during their hospitalisation and even after ICU discharge.