Pain characterization in institutionalized elderly patients.

The aim of the present study was to identify the prevalence and characteristics of pain chronic in relation to qualitative aspects and location in elderly (65 the 104 old) institutionalized in Jequié, Bahia, Brazil. This is a descriptive exploratory study with a transversal design and quantitative approach. The instrument used consisted of: data identification; mini-mental examination; pain-related aspects; and the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Half of the subjects were women, with a pain prevalence of 73.3%, 30% of whom had experienced pain for 1 to 5 years, 25% for more than 5 years, 28.3% did not cite pain duration and 16.6% reported having had pain for less than 1 year. With respect to quantification of pain, the most cited was moderate (25.7%). Many of the elderly were in the age group of 60 to 69 years, most painful complaint lodged mild and moderate, and places most affected were, knees and lumbar spine.