Improving the Management of Pain in Hospitalized Adults

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Abstract
Pain is the most common symptom experienced by hospitalized adults1,2 and is highly prevalent in multiple patient populations and settings.3-12 Whereas pain management guidelines exist,13-16 and the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has mandated routine pain assessment in hospitals, these strategies have not been rigorously evaluated. Institutionwide quality improvement studies that have used these guidelines have met with only modest success in improving pain assessment rates17-19 and have yet to demonstrate improvements in pain intensity.17 These studies have been limited by small sample sizes, targeted at isolated hospital units or patient populations (eg, those with cancer), lacked adequate control groups, or used cross-sectional rather than longitudinal designs.17