BACKGROUND
Pain prevalence has been investigation in many developed countries, but integrated information about
pain prevalence in Chinese hospitals is lacking. To achieve better
pain treatment of hospitalized patients,
pain management needs to be investigated. The present descriptive and cross-sectional study was performed to demonstrate the prevalence of
pain by comparison with the 4 traditional vital signs, and to investigate
pain management in a Chinese teaching hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS Structured and systematic interviews were undertaken by independent researchers. During a patient's hospitalization, the prevalence of
pain and the 4 vital signs were recorded. Then, the catalog, severity, causes, duration of
pain, and
pain management were assessed. RESULTS We found: (1) 63.36% of patients (3248 in total) suffered from
pain while in hospital, which was 1.8~2.8 times higher than the prevalence of abnormality of the 4 vital signs. (2) 76% of patients had moderate
pain and 21.98% had severe
pain. (3)
Pain intensity differed among patients with different diseases, but did not differ by demographic factors. (4) Acute and
chronic pain were present in 68% and 26% of patients, respectively. In addition, 16% of the patients had
neuropathic pain. (5) More than half of the patients with
pain refused to receive
pain-relief medication because they worried about addiction to
opioids and the adverse effects of
analgesics. (6) Most medical staff properly understood the 3 ladder
analgesics. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of
pain is higher than the abnormality of the 4 traditional vital signs in a Chinese hospital. Although
pain management has broadly improved, more patient education is necessary.