Acute pain from the perspective of minor trauma patients treated at the emergency unit

Dolor agudo en la perspectiva de pacientes víctimas de trauma leve tratados en unidad de urgencia

OBJECTIVE:

To study the factors that influence the perception of acute pain and the consequences of this experience in patients suffering from mild trauma.

METHOD:

Descriptive qualitative study conducted in an emergency service in southern Brazil. Data was collected in October 2013, through semi-structured interviews with 29 individuals who reported pain after physical trauma, regardless of the triggering factor. To process the data, we used a Content Analysis technique, subject modality.

RESULTS:

Two categories emerged: Factors that influence the perception of pain resulting from trauma and, Consequences of acute pain due to trauma. The acute pain sensation was influenced by biological, emotional, spiritual and socio-cultural factors and induced biological and emotional consequences for individuals.

CONCLUSION:

The health professionals need to consider the factors that influence soreness and its consequences for the proper assessment and management of pain resulting from trauma.

Acute pain; Pain perception; Wounds and injuries; Emergency medical service; Nursing care