Prevalence and factors associated with acute pain among emergency trauma patients

doi:10.5847/wjem.j.1920-8642.2026.001

Abstract

Abstract:

BACKGROUND Acute pain is a sudden experience secondary to injuries and varies in perception among individuals. In trauma patients, it can negatively affect respiratory function, immune response, and wound healing, making it a significant public health concern. This study is to determine the prevalence and factors associated with acute pain among emergency trauma patients.

METHODS: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were collected via interviewer-administered questionnaires and patient chart review. The data were analyzed via the statistical package for social science version 25. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used. Variables with a P-value <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: A total of 397 patients were included in the study, for a response rate of 96.8%. The prevalence of pain during admission was 91.9% (95% confidence intervals [95% CIs]: 88.8%-94.4%). Blunt trauma (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=2.82; 95% CI: 1.23-6.45), analgesia before admission to the emergency department (aOR=2.71; 95% CI: 1.16-6.36), documentation of pain severity in the chart (aOR=2.71; 95% CI: 1.16-6.36), analgesia provided within two hours after admission (aOR=7.60; 95% CI: 2.79-20.68), use of non-pharmacological pain management methods (aOR=3.09; 95% CI: 1.35-7.08) and availability of analgesia (aOR=3.95; 95% CI: 1.36-11.43) were associated with acute pain experience.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of acute pain among emergency trauma patients was high in the study area. Analgesia should be administered prior to admission, and non-pharmacological pain management should be implemented. Moreover, training on pain assessment and management should be provided for healthcare providers in the emergency department.

Key words: Acute pain, Emergency, Trauma, Factor

Elias Alemayehu Worku, Habtu Adane Aytolign, Zemenay Ayinie Mekonnen, Endale Gebreegziabher Gebremedhn. Prevalence and factors associated with acute pain among emergency trauma patients[J]. World Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2026, 17(1): 36-42.

Figures/Tables 5

Figure 1.

Table 1.

Table 2.

Table 3.

Table 4.

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Variables	Frequency (n)	Percentage (%)
Sex
Male	281	70.8
Female	116	29.2
Age, years
18-29	173	43.6
30-39	136	34.3
40-49	53	13.4
50 and above	35	8.8
Educational status
Can’t read or write	143	36.0
Can read and write	48	12.1
Elementary class (1-6 grades)	29	7.3
Elementary class (7-8 grades)	33	8.3
High school (9-12 grades)	79	19.9
Higher education and above	65	16.4

Variables	Frequency (n)	Percentage (%)
Cause of trauma
Bullet	134	33.8
Fall-down injury	75	18.9
Motor vehicle accident	53	13.4
Car accidents	55	13.9
Burn	7	1.8
Others*	73	18.2
Type of trauma
Blunt	158	39.8
Penetrating	239	60.2
Number of trauma
Single trauma	323	81.4
Poly trauma	74	18.6
Chronic pain issues prior to this trauma
Yes	43	10.8
No	354	89.2

Variables	Frequency (n)	Percentage (%)
Analgesia before admission to the emergency department
Yes	168	42.3
No	229	57.7
Analgesia for your pain after admission at emergency departments
Yes	270	68.0
No	127	32.0
Pain assessment by the investigator at trauma center
After analgesia is given	87	21.9
Before analgesia is given	310	78.1
Documentation of pain severity on the chart
Yes	157	39.9
No	240	60.1
Non-pharmacological method for pain management used
Yes	133	33.5
No	264	66.5

Variables		Pain		OR (95% CI)	aOR (95% CI)	P-value
Variables		No, n (%)	Yes, n (%)	OR (95% CI)	aOR (95% CI)	P-value
Type of trauma	Blunt	20 (12.66)	138 (87.34)	1.00	1.00
Type of trauma	Penetrating	12 (5.02)	227 (94.98)	2.74 (1.30-5.78)	2.82 (1.23-6.45)	0.014
Number of trauma	Poly trauma	30 (9.29)	293 (90.71)	3.69 (0.86-15.78)	2.04 (0.44-9.47)	0.362
Number of trauma	Single trauma	2 (2.70)	72 (97.30)	1.00	1.00
Receive analgesia before admission to the ED	Yes	23 (13.69)	145 (86.31)	1.00	1.00
Receive analgesia before admission to the ED	No	9 (3.93)	220 (96.07)	3.87 (1.745-8.62)	2.71 (1.16-6.36)	0.001
Receive analgesia after admission to the ED	Yes	27 (10.00)	243 (90.00)	1.00	1.00
Receive analgesia after admission to the ED	No	5 (3.94)	122 (96.06)	2.71 (1.02-7.21)	1.60 (0.50-5.08)	0.426
When was pain assessed by the investigator at trauma center	After analgesia is given	11 (12.64)	76 (87.36)	1.00	1.00
When was pain assessed by the investigator at trauma center	Before analgesia is given	21 (6.77)	289 (93.23)	1.99 (0.92-4.31)	1.28 (0.49-3.37)	0.612
Was severity of pain documented in the chart	Yes	20 (12.74)	137 (87.26)	1.00	1.00
Was severity of pain documented in the chart	No	12 (5.00)	228 (95.00)	2.77 (1.32-5.85)	2.71 (1.16-6.36)	0.022
Non-pharmacologic pain management used or not	Yes	20 (13.89)	124 (86.11)	1.00	1.00
Non-pharmacologic pain management used or not	No	12 (4.74)	241 (95.26)	3.24 (1.53-6.84)	3.09 (1.35-7.08)	0.007
Receive analgesia after two hours of admission to ED	Yes	6 (3.06)	190 (96.94)	1.00	1.00
Receive analgesia after two hours of admission to ED	No	26 (12.94)	175 (87.06)	4.71 (1.89-11.70)	7.60 (2.79-20.68)	<0.001
Preoperative anxiety	Yes	8 (3.76)	205 (96.24)	3.84 (1.68-8.78)	1.47 (0.55-3.96)	0.442
Preoperative anxiety	No	24 (13.04)	160 (86.96)	1.00	1.00
Availability of analgesia at the time of need	Yes	27 (10.84)	222 (89.16)	1.00	1.00
Availability of analgesia at the time of need	No	5 (3.38)	143 (96.62)	3.48 (1.31-9.24)	3.95 (1.36-11.43)	0.011

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