Effects of Pain and Cognition on the Changes in Knowledge, Behavior, and Status Ratings in Older Adults Using Omaha System Scores.

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the relationship between cognition and pain among community-dwelling older adults using the Omaha System.

Method: A quantitative longitudinal retrospective correlational study was performed. Patterns of pain and cognition in adults aged ≥65 years from the Omaha System data were obtained. Four groups of individuals with pain, cognition, both, and neither were compared on admission and discharge, including changes between and within groups.

Results: Findings from 6,546 patients demonstrated the cognition group gained the most from nursing interventions. The cognition and both groups' knowledge, behavior, and status ratings differed on admission, but the difference was minimized on discharge.

Conclusion: Lower cognitive functioning may impede patient expression of pain and/or accurate assessment of pain by nurses. When assessing pain status in older adults, nurses should account for possible effects of cognition problems, and the use of objective assessment is preferred for this population.