Abstract
This is a report of a scoping review undertaken to obtain an overview of studies conducted on pain management education programs (PMEPs). The aim of this review was to describe existing research publications relating to PMEP to map how pain management practice training might directly influence surgical nurses in contributing to successful pain outcomes in patients. The initial search of electronic databases identified 40 articles according to the inclusion criteria and search strategy, which applied the following terms: (“Pain management education program”) AND∗ OR∗ (“Nurses”) AND∗ OR∗ (“Patient outcomes”) AND∗ (“Mixed methods”). Titles, abstracts, and keywords were also searched for the term “Nurse education.” After applying exclusion criteria, five relevant peer-reviewed articles were eventually selected for the final charting of the data. The search included articles published between January 2015 and March 2019. The results show that PMEPs employ a variety of computer-based simulation, web-based facilitation, and video materials based on an evidence-based approach in their syllabuses. PMEPs were shown to enhance practice by promoting improved skills in critical thinking, leadership, patient management, and health promotion. Additionally, these programs promote an ability to practice across a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings, wherein nurses' engagement in managing patients' pain increased after completing the PMEP. Research within PMEP indicates that these programs may contribute to promoting opportunities for new collaborations within multidisciplinary team projects. Additionally, further research initiatives are needed to explore various aspects of these programs to enhance the nursing skills required for effective pain management, such as computer-based simulation, web-based facilitation, and video materials. Moreover, research relating to PMEPs in low- and middle-income countries is scarce and warrants further study.
Highlights
Pain management education programs (PMEPs) are limited to only one hour of teaching within the nursing curricula at most schools offering bachelor’s degree qualifications [1, 2]
Four of the articles were designed to evaluate and assess healthcare professionals’ knowledge of pain management and included the following: 37 registered nurses working in the postanesthesia care unit at a department of anesthesiology and critical care medicine in a university hospital in Baltimore [15]; 40 registered nurses (22 nurses from an academic medical center and 18 nurses from a community-based regional medical center) and the electronic health records of 58 patients from an academic medical center [16]; 23 nurses employed in a trauma unit in an urban academic hospital in Western Pennsylvania [17]; and 51 nurses working at three medical and surgical units at a university hospital in Indiana [1]. e results are presented in relation to the two research questions
Multiple forms of technologybased training were utilized in those studies that found pain management education programs (PMEPs) to be effective, and these education programs consisted of realistic simulated scenarios and video scenarios to engage both students and qualified nurse participants to apply knowledge to make clinical decisions. e advantage of the computer-based simulation tools was that they illustrated the effects of the chosen invention and provided guidance on optimal pain management techniques
Summary
Pain management education programs (PMEPs) are limited to only one hour of teaching within the nursing curricula at most schools offering bachelor’s degree qualifications [1, 2]. Student nurses and newly registered nurses often have insufficient nursing practice experience and training to optimally care for patients affected by perioperative pain. E literature does paint a realistic picture of nursing pain management practices, revealing how best to manage the pain of their patients [3,4,5]. Much effort is still needed to improve the effectiveness of pain management practices. Nurses’ pain management practices are complex and involve a variety of different management structures that are interconnected and codependent on each other. Previous research illustrates that pain management does not follow one standard set of practices; it differs between healthcare professionals and includes several complex structures within which nurses must navigate in managing the patient’s pain [6]. It has been suggested that management structures influence nurses’ practices, and, when
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