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Pain, Anxiety and Analgesics: A Comparative Study of Elderly and Younger Surgical Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Kathleen Oberle ,
Pauline Paul ,
Judy Wry  and
Michael Grace
Kathleen Oberle
Affiliation:
University of Alberta Hospitals
Pauline Paul
Affiliation:
Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta
Judy Wry
Affiliation:
University of Alberta Hospitals
Michael Grace
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta
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Abstract

To determine if the post-operative experience of elderly and younger patients is different, data were collected from 41 elderly patients (65 years and older) and 249 younger patients (under 65 years). Pain and anxiety were assessed on days two and three post-operative. Anxiety was also measured pre-operatively. Amount of analgesic ordered and given, and time of last analgesic prior to pain assessment were recorded. Significant differences were found in the number of analgesics given, with the elderly receiving fewer analgesics. There were no significant differences in pain intensity levels. In both age categories patients were given less analgesic on the third post-operative day, regardless of pain intensity. The two groups chose almost, identical pain descriptors. In both groups strong associations were observed between post-operative anxiety and pain, but pre-operative anxiety seemed unrelated to post-operative pain levels. It was concluded that health care professionals manage pain similarly for both younger and elderly patients, but the elderly require less analgesic for pain control.

Résumé

Afin de déterminer si l'expérience postopératoire diffère entre les patients âgés et les patients plus jeunes, 41 patients âgés (65 ans et plus) et 249 patients plus jeunes (moins de 65 ans) participèrent à cette étude. La douleur et l'anxiété furent mesurées les deuxième et troisième jours postopératoires. L'anxiété fut aussi mesurée avant la chirurgie. Le nombre d'analgésiques presents et donnés, ainsi que le délai entre l'administration du dernier analgésique et l'evaluation de la douleur furent notés. Tandis que l'intensité de la douleur ne variait pas significativement, le nombre d'analgésiques donnés était significativement différent, les personnes âgées en recevant moins. Les patients des deux groupes reçurent moins d'analgésiques le troisième jour postopératoire, indépendamment de l'intensité de la douleur. Les sujets des deux groupes choisirent les descripteurs de douleur de façon presque identique. De fortes associations furent observées entre l'anxiété postopératoire et la douleur, alors que l'anxiété préopératoire et la douleur, ne semblèrent pas reliées. II fut conclu que les professionels de la santé traitent la douleur des personnes âgées et plus jeunes de façon similaire, et que les personnes âgées requièrent moins d'analgésiques.

Keywords

Post-operative painAnxietyElderly.
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 9 , Issue 1 , Spring/printemps 1990 , pp. 13 - 22
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1990

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