Pain Management Guideline for Dementia in Nursing Homes

This clinical trial is focused on improving how pain is assessed, diagnosed, and managed in older adults with dementia living in nursing homes. Many residents with dementia experience pain that is not properly identified or treated, often because staff may lack the necessary knowledge or resources. This can lead to untreated or over-treated pain, which can severely affect the residents' quality of life. The study aims to implement a new Pain Management Clinical Practice Guideline (Pain CPG) to ensure better care for these residents. By doing so, the study seeks to address the disparities in pain management based on sex, race, and ethnicity, and improve overall treatment outcomes. Participants in the study will be nursing home residents with dementia and pain, and they will be part of communities that are randomly assigned to either receive the new Pain Management CPG approach (PAIN-CPG-EIT) or standard education. A research nurse facilitator will work closely with community champions and a stakeholder team over 12 months to implement the guideline. The study will measure how effectively the guideline improves pain assessment and management, the appropriate use of opioids, and the inclusion of pain management plans in care plans. It will also evaluate how consistently the guideline is implemented and whether there are differences in pain treatment and outcomes based on gender and race. This study hopes to demonstrate that using the Pain Management CPG can lead to better pain care for older adults with dementia.