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Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

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<strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Nursing</strong> & <strong>Midwifery</strong>, <strong>Trinity</strong> College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research <strong>Conference</strong><br />

Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007<br />

<strong>Conference</strong> <strong>Proceedings</strong><br />

underestimation in pain intensity ratings between patients and<br />

nurses were noted for abdominal pain, musculoskeletal pain and<br />

cellulitis. Overestimation <strong>of</strong> pain intensity by one emergency nurse<br />

in a patient with a painful throat was also found.<br />

Figure 2: Mean Difference in Pain Intensity Scores by Presenting<br />

Complaint<br />

Mean Difference in Pain Intensity Rating<br />

5.00<br />

4.00<br />

3.00<br />

2.00<br />

1.00<br />

0.00<br />

-1.00<br />

-2.00<br />

Discussion<br />

Abdominal Pain<br />

Cellulitis<br />

Chest Pain<br />

Earache<br />

Fracture/ Dislocation<br />

- 309 -<br />

Headache<br />

Presenting Complaint<br />

Laceration<br />

Musculoskelatal<br />

Painful Throat<br />

It is well documented in the literature that pain is the most common<br />

reason for presentation to emergency departments (Illingsworth<br />

and Simpson, 1994; Tanabe and Buschmann, 2000 Ducharme,<br />

2005). Despite the issue <strong>of</strong> oligoanalgesia being initially highlighted<br />

eighteen years ago by Wilson and Pendleton (1989) studies<br />

illustrate that the issue <strong>of</strong> under-treating pain in emergency<br />

departments continues to exist.<br />

The mean patient pain intensity score in this study was found to be<br />

6.45 (SD 2.1). This pain intensity rating is slightly less than the<br />

mean patient pain intensity scores presented by Puntillo et al.

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