Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses
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Observational Study
Capsaicin 8% Dermal Patch for Neuropathic Pain in a Pain Unit.
Pain units manage approximately 20% of the patients with neuropathic pain, usually presenting with severe uncontrolled pain associated with substantial impairment of quality-of-life and disability. We aimed to analyze the experience with the capsaicin 8% dermal patch for managing patients with neuropathic pain in a pain unit. ⋯ Our results suggest that the capsaicin 8% dermal patch is a useful and well-tolerated treatment option for managing peripheral neuropathic pain in pain units.
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Despite the widespread use of complementary and alternative medicine by patients and physicians alike, there is no accurate evidence regarding the effects of vitamin D supplementation on treatment-induced pain in cancer patients. Thus, the aim of this systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to evaluate the impact of vitamin D administration on therapy-related pain in subjects diagnosed with malignant disorders. ⋯ Our results suggest that the supplementation with high doses of vitamin D in cancer patients with low serum levels of vitamin D, can be effective in reducing treatment-related pain.
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The early identification of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) (e.g., numbness or tingling in the fingers or toes) is important due to its frequency and the few effective treatment options available. The identification of common patient-reported CIPN characteristics and associated functional limitations may help to facilitate patient-clinician discussions of CIPN in practice. ⋯ Consistent with qualitative research, participants frequently described CIPN as numbness and/or tingling in the fingers and/or toes.
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Patient race, ethnicity, and culture including language are intertwined and may influence patient reporting of pain severity. ⋯ Race, in addition to a new area of focus, language, impacted both the chances of reporting any pain and pain severity. Additional research is needed on the impact of language barriers on pain severity reporting, documentation, and differences in pain outcomes and disparities.
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Assessment of pain in the hospital has often relied on intensity rating alone. To address the gap in meeting patients' pain management expectations, a Midwestern medical center implemented the CAPA (Clinical Aligned Pain Assessment) tool for more comprehensive nursing pain assessments. ⋯ As patient advocates, nurses are integral to thorough assessment and treatment of pain. Findings identified the need for methodological research of CAPA. As with any assessment tool, when using CAPA, ongoing monitoring is needed to address how it is administered, coded, and used for decision-making about pain management.