Prevalência e características da dor em indivíduos com feridas crônicas: uma revisão integrativa

Abstract

Pain related to chronic wounds constitutes a significant clinical and care challenge given its high prevalence, impact on quality of life and undervaluation in clinical practice. To identify the prevalence and characteristics of pain in patients with chronic wounds, analyzing the instruments used for its assessment and the methodological quality of the available evidence. This is an integrative literature review, based on evidence-based practice and conducted according to the methodological guidelines of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and PRISMA-ScR. Nine primary studies with a quantitative design, published in different countries, were selected through searches in indexed databases and gray literature. The results demonstrated that pain is present in up to 94.1% of patients with chronic wounds, with a predominance of moderate to severe intensity, mixed nature (nociceptive and neuropathic) and strong interference in daily activities. Procedural pain, especially during dressing changes, was frequent and undertreated. Variability was identified in pain assessment instruments, with a predominance of one-dimensional scales and little standardization. It is concluded that pain in chronic wounds is a multifactorial phenomenon, often neglected, that requires systematic assessment and evidence-based management. The central role of the nursing team in effective pain control and the need to develop standardized care guidelines are highlighted.