Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses
-
This cross-sectional multicenter study describes several aspects of pain, pain intensity, and pain treatment in a Dutch nursing home population. A standardized pain questionnaire, including the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), was used to measure aspects of pain and intensity of present pain, pain experienced in the previous week, and tolerable pain. The eligible sample comprised 320 residents (median age 79 years), of whom 233 residents completed the questionnaire. ⋯ Apparently, residents do not seem to expect effective pain management. Awareness and knowledge about pain assessment and treatment, however, needs to be raised. Pain measurement tools and treatment protocols should be implemented in daily practice.
-
This study investigates the informational content about postoperative pain and pain management that patients identify as being most important. In a descriptive quantitative study design, a convenience sample of 150 general day surgery patients were surveyed by telephone within 72 h after discharge from a hospital day surgery unit. The survey consisted of 19 items rated on a 10-point Likert scale of importance. ⋯ All of the pain and pain management survey information items were of moderate (5-6/10) to high (>7/10) importance to the general day surgery patient participants. Of prime importance was information related to what to do about pain and side effects after discharge. Because patients place high importance on information about the pain experience, the pain management plan after discharge, and side effect management, health care professionals need to focus their pain management counseling in these areas.
-
Chronic/persistent pain places a significant burden on patients, the health care system, and society, because it is associated with substantial personal suffering, lost productivity, and health care costs. Along with its significant socioeconomic impact, chronic/persistent pain can also alter normal sleep patterns in patients, which in turn may affect multiple aspects of daily life, such as interference with social relationships, diminished cognitive functions, interference with daily activities, and increased levels of anxiety and depression. ⋯ An optimal treatment for the management of chronic/persistent pain should provide continuous around-the-clock pain control and subsequently improve sleep, thereby improving health-related quality of life in many patients. This article focuses on the disruptions in sleep that are commonly seen in patients with chronic/persistent pain, and their utility as a measure of effective pain management in clinical studies evaluating pharmacologic approaches to chronic pain management.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Racial variation in response to music in a sample of African-American and Caucasian chronic pain patients.
The incidence of chronic pain is similar in African-American and Caucasian populations; however, depression and disability secondary to unrelieved chronic pain is higher in African-American populations. In light of this difference, it is important to understand racial variations in response to chronic pain treatments, including complementary therapies such as music. The purpose of this study was to examine racial variation in response to music in an adult population with chronic pain, and specifically to determine if post treatment pain scores differed by race. ⋯ However, this difference was only statistically significant for the Caucasian music group. Although our findings demonstrate that music may be an effective intervention for individuals with chronic nonmalignant pain; individuals from different racial backgrounds may respond differently. Further studies are needed to understand these differences in response to music.
-
We evaluated approaches taken by Northeastern Turkish adolescents to cope with menstrual pain. The questionnaire was prepared according to the facial pain rating scale and applied to 1,408 female high school students (16.05 +/- 1.05 years of age). We investigated the characteristics of dysmenorrhea in adolescents, dysmenorrhea management strategies used by adolescents, and use of medication. ⋯ Adolescents should be encouraged to consult a physician and should be prescribed medication in addition to other measures to alleviate menstrual pain and shorten its duration. Moreover, school curriculum should be redesigned to address proper management strategies for adolescent problems. School nurses can also provide consultation services and arrange informative seminars to increase public awareness of this issue.