Severity and factors associated with pain in patients on mechanical ventilators in Amhara region, North-West Ethiopia: a multi-center prospective observational study

Abstract Pain in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) who are on mechanical ventilators has a range of consequences that impact both their physical and mental recovery. Therefore, this study aims to assess the severity of pain at rest and the factors associated with it among patients on mechani...

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Main Authors: Temesgen Birlie Asmare, Negesse Zurbachew Gobezie, Habtie Bantider Wubet, Getachew Mekete Diress, Abere Gebru Abuhay, Amanu Addis Melesew, Walelign Asime Afework, Daniel Getaneh Damtie, Molla Amsalu Tadesse, Asnake Tadesse Abate, Agernesh Dereje Misker, Tsehayu Melak Siyoum, Begizew Yimenu Mekuriaw, Gezahagn Demsu Gedefaw
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Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05810-7
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author Temesgen Birlie Asmare
Negesse Zurbachew Gobezie
Habtie Bantider Wubet
Getachew Mekete Diress
Abere Gebru Abuhay
Amanu Addis Melesew
Walelign Asime Afework
Daniel Getaneh Damtie
Molla Amsalu Tadesse
Asnake Tadesse Abate
Agernesh Dereje Misker
Tsehayu Melak Siyoum
Begizew Yimenu Mekuriaw
Gezahagn Demsu Gedefaw
author_facet Temesgen Birlie Asmare
Negesse Zurbachew Gobezie
Habtie Bantider Wubet
Getachew Mekete Diress
Abere Gebru Abuhay
Amanu Addis Melesew
Walelign Asime Afework
Daniel Getaneh Damtie
Molla Amsalu Tadesse
Asnake Tadesse Abate
Agernesh Dereje Misker
Tsehayu Melak Siyoum
Begizew Yimenu Mekuriaw
Gezahagn Demsu Gedefaw
author_sort Temesgen Birlie Asmare
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Pain in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) who are on mechanical ventilators has a range of consequences that impact both their physical and mental recovery. Therefore, this study aims to assess the severity of pain at rest and the factors associated with it among patients on mechanical ventilators in the intensive care units. A multi-center prospective observational study was conducted among patients on mechanical ventilators in the intensive care unit of comprehensive specialized hospitals in the Amhara Region of North-West Ethiopia, from October 10, 2024, to January 15, 2025. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Pain status was assessed every four hours on the first day of ICU admission using the Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS). Consecutive sampling was employed to select participants. Data were entered into EPI-data version 4.6 and transferred to Stata version 17 for analysis. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with pain. This study was conducted among 234 patients. We found the severity of pain as follows: 60 patients (25.64%) experienced no pain, 118 patients (50.43%) experienced mild pain, and 56 patients (23.93%) experienced unacceptable (significant) pain. Additionally, in this study, being female (AOR = 2.45, 95% CI 1.42–4.22), surgical cause of admission (AOR = 2.27, 95% CI 1.31–3.93)), anxiety (AOR = 3.78, 95% CI 2.03–7.04), and Combination of analgesia (opioid and non-opioid) (AOR = 0.37, 95% CI 0.21–0.65) had a significant association with pain. This study revealed that a significant proportion of patients (23.93%) experienced unacceptable levels of pain. Factors significantly associated with increased pain severity included being female, having a surgical cause for admission, and experiencing anxiety. Conversely, the use of a combination of opioid and non-opioid analgesics was significantly linked to reduced pain severity. These findings underscore the importance of recognizing demographic, clinical, and psychological factors in pain assessment. Based on the findings, it is recommended to prioritize routine pain assessments, especially for female and surgical patients. Additionally, anxiety screening and management should be integrated into patient care, and the use of combined opioid and non-opioid analgesics should be encouraged to effectively reduce pain severity.
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spelling doaj-art-75b08377744741bca2daf8ba92f092212025-08-20T03:03:36ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-05810-7Severity and factors associated with pain in patients on mechanical ventilators in Amhara region, North-West Ethiopia: a multi-center prospective observational studyTemesgen Birlie Asmare0Negesse Zurbachew Gobezie1Habtie Bantider Wubet2Getachew Mekete Diress3Abere Gebru Abuhay4Amanu Addis Melesew5Walelign Asime Afework6Daniel Getaneh Damtie7Molla Amsalu Tadesse8Asnake Tadesse Abate9Agernesh Dereje Misker10Tsehayu Melak Siyoum11Begizew Yimenu Mekuriaw12Gezahagn Demsu Gedefaw13Department of Anesthesia, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor UniversityDepartment of Anesthesia, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor UniversityDepartment of Anesthesia, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor UniversityDepartment of Anesthesia, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor UniversityDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor UniversityDepartment of Adult Health Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor UniversityDepartment of Adult Health Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor UniversityDepartment of Anesthesia, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Debre Markos UniversityDepartment of Anesthesia, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, Debre Berhan UniversityDepartment of Neonatal Health Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, and Specialized Hospital, University of GondarDepartment of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor UniversityDepartment of Neonatal Health Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor UniversityDepartment of Neonatal Health Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, and Specialized Hospital, University of GondarAbstract Pain in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) who are on mechanical ventilators has a range of consequences that impact both their physical and mental recovery. Therefore, this study aims to assess the severity of pain at rest and the factors associated with it among patients on mechanical ventilators in the intensive care units. A multi-center prospective observational study was conducted among patients on mechanical ventilators in the intensive care unit of comprehensive specialized hospitals in the Amhara Region of North-West Ethiopia, from October 10, 2024, to January 15, 2025. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Pain status was assessed every four hours on the first day of ICU admission using the Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS). Consecutive sampling was employed to select participants. Data were entered into EPI-data version 4.6 and transferred to Stata version 17 for analysis. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with pain. This study was conducted among 234 patients. We found the severity of pain as follows: 60 patients (25.64%) experienced no pain, 118 patients (50.43%) experienced mild pain, and 56 patients (23.93%) experienced unacceptable (significant) pain. Additionally, in this study, being female (AOR = 2.45, 95% CI 1.42–4.22), surgical cause of admission (AOR = 2.27, 95% CI 1.31–3.93)), anxiety (AOR = 3.78, 95% CI 2.03–7.04), and Combination of analgesia (opioid and non-opioid) (AOR = 0.37, 95% CI 0.21–0.65) had a significant association with pain. This study revealed that a significant proportion of patients (23.93%) experienced unacceptable levels of pain. Factors significantly associated with increased pain severity included being female, having a surgical cause for admission, and experiencing anxiety. Conversely, the use of a combination of opioid and non-opioid analgesics was significantly linked to reduced pain severity. These findings underscore the importance of recognizing demographic, clinical, and psychological factors in pain assessment. Based on the findings, it is recommended to prioritize routine pain assessments, especially for female and surgical patients. Additionally, anxiety screening and management should be integrated into patient care, and the use of combined opioid and non-opioid analgesics should be encouraged to effectively reduce pain severity.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05810-7PainIntensive care unitMechanical ventilatorCritically ill
spellingShingle Temesgen Birlie Asmare
Negesse Zurbachew Gobezie
Habtie Bantider Wubet
Getachew Mekete Diress
Abere Gebru Abuhay
Amanu Addis Melesew
Walelign Asime Afework
Daniel Getaneh Damtie
Molla Amsalu Tadesse
Asnake Tadesse Abate
Agernesh Dereje Misker
Tsehayu Melak Siyoum
Begizew Yimenu Mekuriaw
Gezahagn Demsu Gedefaw
Severity and factors associated with pain in patients on mechanical ventilators in Amhara region, North-West Ethiopia: a multi-center prospective observational study
Scientific Reports
Pain
Intensive care unit
Mechanical ventilator
Critically ill
title Severity and factors associated with pain in patients on mechanical ventilators in Amhara region, North-West Ethiopia: a multi-center prospective observational study
title_full Severity and factors associated with pain in patients on mechanical ventilators in Amhara region, North-West Ethiopia: a multi-center prospective observational study
title_fullStr Severity and factors associated with pain in patients on mechanical ventilators in Amhara region, North-West Ethiopia: a multi-center prospective observational study
title_full_unstemmed Severity and factors associated with pain in patients on mechanical ventilators in Amhara region, North-West Ethiopia: a multi-center prospective observational study
title_short Severity and factors associated with pain in patients on mechanical ventilators in Amhara region, North-West Ethiopia: a multi-center prospective observational study
title_sort severity and factors associated with pain in patients on mechanical ventilators in amhara region north west ethiopia a multi center prospective observational study
topic Pain
Intensive care unit
Mechanical ventilator
Critically ill
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05810-7
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