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Tanzania Journal of Health Research
Health User's Trust Fund (HRUTF)
ISSN: 1821-6404
Vol. 13, No. 4, 2011, pp. 1-8
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Bioline Code: th11038
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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Tanzania Journal of Health Research, Vol. 13, No. 4, 2011, pp. 1-8
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Pain management among adult patients with fractures of long bones at Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
HAONGA, BILLY T.; MAKUPA, JACKLINE E.; MUHINA, ROBERT I. & NUNGU, KITUGI S.
Abstract
Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential
tissue damage and is one of the leading complaints in emergency departments (EDs). Despite the
important and the advantages of pain control, still patients do not receive appropriate attention. The
objective of this study was to assess pain management among adult patients with fractures of long
bones at Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A descriptive Cross-sectional
study design (Hospital based) was used. Total of 250 patients aged 18 – 60 years old with fractures of
long bones were recruited from March to June 2008. Structured questionnaires and observation guide
were used to collect data. Verbal rating scale was used, to determine the intensity of pain. The study
shows that there is no documentation for pain assessment or reassessment at Emergency Department.
Slightly above half (54%; 135/250) of patients were not given analgesics. The commonest analgesic
given was diclofenac sodium (46%). There was no patient given opioids (pethedine/ morphine). The
rate of analgesics administration or splinting before and after admission did not differ between sexes
(P=0.314 vs P= 0.230) and (P=0.314 vs P= 0.114), respectively. Almost half (47.0%) of them spent >20
min to 1 hour before the administration of analgesics. After administration of analgesia 76% of the
patients continued to have severe to moderate pain. A large proportion (62.4%; N=156/250) of the
patients scored their pain as severe. Of these, 28 (17.9%) patients received analgesia within 20 min, 42
(26.9%) after 30-60 min and 73 (46.8%) were not given analgesics at all. In conclusion pain at Moi
Orthopaedic Institute is under treated. It is important that this is addressed properly to minimize
pains among patients attending hospitals for fracture management.
Keywords
fracture; long bones; pain management; analgesics; Tanzania
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© Tanzania Journal of Health Research
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