Level of implementation of pain management and early mobilization strategies to prevent delirium in geriatric trauma patients: A mixed-methods study

Background

Pain management and early mobilization strategies are recommended in clinical practice guidelines for the prevention of delirium in older adults. However, available data on the implementation of these strategies in trauma are limited.

Aims

To describe the use of pain management and early mobilization strategies in older adults at a level I trauma center, as well as the facilitators and barriers to their implementation.

Methods

A convergent mixed methods study was used. Quantitative data were collected from sixty medical records. Qualitative data was collected through a focus group with healthcare providers to explore their perspectives regarding the use of the target practices and on barriers and facilitators to their implementation. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and a thematic analysis using an inductive and deductive interpretative descriptive approach was undertaken.

Results

A question on the presence/absence of pain was the most frequently documented pain assessment method. Pain assessment was poorly documented. Frequencies of non-opioid and opioid administrations were similar, but non-pharmacological strategies were not widely used. The first mobilization was performed quickly and was most commonly to a chair. The focus group discussion confirmed many of the data collected in the medical records. Barriers to implementing the targeted strategies were primarily related to organizational context and facilitation processes.

Conclusions

Areas for improvement were identified including pain assessment, the use of non-pharmacological pain management strategies and ambulation as a mobilization strategy. Our findings will serve as a starting point for optimizing and adapting practices for geriatric trauma patients and evaluating their impact.