Authors

  1. Arbour, Caroline BSc, RN
  2. Gelinas, Celine PhD, RN
  3. Michaud, Cecile PhD, RN

Abstract

This pilot study was aimed to explore the impact of the implementation of the Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool on pain management and clinical outcomes in mechanically ventilated trauma intensive care unit patients. Thirty medical files were reviewed in this preexperimental before-and-after study design. Pain assessments and identification of pain episodes were more frequent postimplementation of the tool. Although fewer analgesics were administered during the postimplementation phase, these interventions were found to be more efficient than those of the preimplementation phase. Moreover, during the postimplementation phase, a lower number of complications were observed.