Introduction: Pain is a common problem among critically ill patients. Due to communication barriers such as sedation, delirium, intubation, and neuromuscular blocks, patients in intensive care units find it difficult to express their pain. Understanding appropriate validated pain scales is crucial for intensive care units. Proper and timely pain
assessment can reduce discomfort, shorten the length of stay, and contribute to better treatment outcomes. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to describe the methods of pain assessment in critically ill adult patients in intensive care units using relevant literature and
to present the Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool. Methods: In this thesis, we used a descriptive literature review method, primarily based on foreign professional and scientific literature. The literature search was conducted using the following keywords: pain assessment AND nursing, pain rating scales, pain AND intensive care unit, pain assessment and management AND guidelines and Critical Care Pain Observation Tool. The literature
used was fully accessible online and published between 2014 and 2024. Results: We conducted a detailed review of 12 literature sources. We found that the advantages of using
the CPOT include objectivity, ease of use, reliability, standardization of use, and sensitivity in detecting pain. The disadvantages of using the CPOT are subjectivity in the case of less experienced healthcare workers, time consumption, the need for continuous monitoring and
pain assessment, the necessity for education and training of healthcare workers, and the limitation of its use to a specific group of patients. Discussion and conclusion: Nurses play a crucial role in intensive care units in assessing and managing pain. Their role includes the
regular and consistent use of the CPOT for pain assessment, monitoring patient conditions, and adjusting therapeutic measures based on pain assessment results. We believe that there is a lot to improve in pain assessment, which would contribute to a more effective, accurate, and tailored approach to pain management in critically ill patients. It can be concluded that the use of the CPOT is beneficial for pain assessment in critically ill patients and represents
an important tool for improving pain management and ensuring comprehensive care in ICUs
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