Does the Minimum Data Set (MDS) pain quality indicator show that some nursing homes provide better pain management?
(Back to top) In a recent study conducted in 16 nursing homes, we collected independent data that showed that the MDS quality indicator for “prevalence of pain” does indeed accurately discriminate between facilities (4). Interpretation of the pain indicator requires caution, however. Rather than reflecting poor quality, a high prevalence of pain according to the MDS was associated with better pain assessment and treatment care processes. For our study, we compared eight nursing homes that scored in the upper 75th percentile on the prevalence of pain QI and eight nursing homes that scored in the lower 25th percentile for the same QI. Our research staff collected data through interviews with 255 residents and medical record reviews. In high prevalence homes, 47% of the participating residents had pain documented on their most recent MDS and the same percentage reported symptoms of chronic pain during interviews with research staff. By contrast, in low prevalence homes, 9% of the particip
