Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses
-
Comparative Study
Midwives and gynecologists: knowledge about sterile water injections for pain relief in labor.
Presently, there is great interest in nonpharmacologic methods of pain relief during labor. The aim of this study was to determine whether gynecologists and midwives are aware of the use of sterile water injections for pain relief during childbirth, whether they use this pain relief method, and if not, would they do so in the future. We designed a quantitative, observational, descriptive, prospective and transversal study. ⋯ The results determined that women have more knowledge about the technique (79.3%), whereas only 33.3% of men are aware of it (p = .02). The results of this study showed a lack of knowledge regarding this technique, as well as educational interest in the fact that women have more knowledge than men. Increased use was observed in younger, less experienced professionals.
-
Pain management for older adults in long-term care (LTC) has been recognized as a problem internationally. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) and nurse practitioner (NP) as change champions during the implementation of an evidence-based pain protocol in LTC. In this exploratory, multiple-case design study, we collected data from two LTC homes in Ontario, Canada. ⋯ Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. The NP and CNS used a variety of effective strategies to promote pain management changes in practice including educational outreach with team members, reminders to nursing staff to highlight the pain protocol and educate about practice changes, chart audits and feedback to the nursing staff, interdisciplinary working group meetings, ad hoc meetings with nursing staff, and resident assessment using advanced skills. The CNS and NP are ideal champions to implement pain management protocols and likely other quality improvement initiatives.
-
This study explored the relationship between participants' pain experience and quality of life (QOL). One hundred nine patients aged 18 years and older who had taken prescribed opioid analgesics for cancer-related pain at a teaching hospital in Taipei, Taiwan, completed the Brief Pain Inventory and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Group Questionnaire. The results indicated that participants in this study had experienced a mean functional QOL of 55.47 (SD 21.48), a mean symptom QOL of 41.97 (SD 16.89), and a mean global QOL of 42.13 (SD 20.69). ⋯ Moreover, the results indicated a significant correlation between global (r = -0.461, p < .01), functional (r = -0.430, p < .01), and symptom (r = 0.505, p < .01) QOL and pain interference. The current results support the observation that cancer pain substantially affects a patient's quality of life. The findings provide empirical support for the need for better programmatic efforts to improve pain management in Taiwanese oncology outpatients.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Can presence of a dog reduce pain and distress in children during venipuncture?
The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of animal-assisted intervention as distraction for reducing children's pain and distress before, during, and after standard blood collection procedure. Fifty children (ages 4-11 years) undergoing venipuncture were randomly assigned to the experimental group (EG; n = 25) or to the control group (CG; n = 25). The blood collection procedure was carried on the children in the EG arm in the presence of a dog, whereas no dog was present when venipuncture was conducted on children in CG. ⋯ Furthermore, cortisol levels were lower in the EG group compared with the CG group. There were no significant differences in pain ratings and in the level of parental anxiety. It appears that the presence of dogs during blood draw procedures reduces distress in children.
-
Pain is one of the major stressors for critically ill patients. The first step for effective pain management is pain assessment. Due to the availability of physiologic monitoring devices in intensive care units, observing changes in vital signs provides a fast, simple, and objective method. ⋯ In terms of criterion-related validity, there was no significant correlation between patient's self-report of pain intensity and heart rate and blood pressure. As recommended by other scholars and researchers, heart rate and blood pressure can only be used as a cue for pain assessment. If pain is suspected, further appropriate assessment is necessary to provide accurate judgment.