Comprehensive Pain Research Articles

Nurses' perspectives of pain assessment and management in dementia care in hospital.

To explore nurses' perspectives and generate recommendations for nursing practice of pain assessment and management in dementia care in a hospital setting. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with nurses who had experience in dementia care from two care units of a regional hospital. Data were analysed using six phases of reflexive thematic analysis. Eight nurses from two inpatient units of a local district hospital were interviewed. Five themes were identified: (1) ways of understanding, (2) practicality of pain assessment tools, (3) usefulness of pain scores, (4) analgesia use and (5) limitations to practice. Nurses perceived pain tools did not sufficiently help to assess pain in people with dementia, and adaptation was often needed when scoring pain. Overuse of analgesia, trial-and-error practice and delayed prescriptions for analgesia limited pain management effectiveness for people with dementia during hospitalisation. Pain tools are preferably used as a complementary method in addition to nurses' intuitional judgement. Reporting pain via scores requires a more complete narrative description from the source of pain reports to allow clinicians to accurately report a persons' pain. Clinicians must minimise trial-and-error practice in analgesia by conducting comprehensive pain assessments. Health-care organisations need to foster timely collaboration between clinicians to support nurses' practice limitations for effective analgesia administration in dementia care.

The Effect of comprehensive rehabilitation on Lithuanian adolescent's nonspecific low back pain, depending on the duration: Nonrandomized single-arm trial.

Objective:To determine pain and functional changes during comprehensive rehabilitation (CR) in adolescents with nonspecific low back pain (NLBP), and to determine the optimal CR duration.Methods:The study included 106 adolescents (39 boys [36.8%], 67 girls [63.2%]), 14 to17 years old, with the following inclusion criteria: duration of NLBP for at least 12 weeks; conservative NLBP treatment was effectless; pain intensity using the visual analogue pain scale (VAS) ≤ 7 points; disrupted daily activities; ability to understand and answer the questions; written consent to participate voluntarily in the study. The pain was assessed using the VAS scale, functional changes were assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), 12-Item Short Form Survey, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD), and physical functional capacity and proprioception (Proprio) were assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer. The participants performed a comprehensive pain rehabilitation program consisting of physiotherapy, TENS, magnetotherapy, lumbar massage, and relaxing vibroacoustic therapy. The active CR cycle lasted for 22 sessions (with intermediate measurements after 5 and 16 sessions), after which we performed passive observation for another half a year. Five measurements were performed.Results:Pain, functional assessment, and physical capacity were improved with CR. Statistically significant improvement became apparent after 5 CR sessions, but statistical and clinical significance became apparent after 16 CR sessions. In the distant period, after the completion of CR, neither statistical nor clinical changes occurred.Conclusions:CR is effective in reducing pain, and improving functional state and physical capacity quickly and reliably in 16 CR sessions, which is sufficient to obtain clinically satisfactory CR results. Good results were achieved during CR and neither improved nor deteriorated spontaneously in the distant period. This study shows a possible mismatch between NLBP intensity and impaired functional state in adolescents.

Musculoskeletal Pain Management and Patient Mental Health and Well-being.

Orthopaedic trauma patients have high rates of psychiatric disorders, which put them at risk for worse outcomes after injury and surgery, including worse pain. Mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, can affect the perception of pain. Pain can also exacerbate or contribute to the development of mental illness after injury. Interventions to address both mental health and pain among orthopaedic trauma patients are critical. Balancing safety and comfort amid a drug overdose epidemic is challenging, and many clinicians do not feel comfortable addressing mental health or have the resources necessary. We reviewed the literature on the complex relationship between pain and mental health and presented examples of scalable and accessible interventions that can be implemented to promote the health and recovery of our patients. Interventions described include screening for depression in the orthopaedic trauma clinic and the emergency department or inpatient setting during injury and using a comprehensive and evidence-based multimodal pain management regimen that blends pharmacologic alternatives to opioids and physical and cognitive strategies to manage pain.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Nurses' Cancer Pain Management Competency Scale

BackgroundThere is lack of instruments for assessing nurses' comprehensive pain management competency. AimThis study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Nurses' Cancer Pain Management Competency Scale and to conduct a cursory survey of the pain management educational needs/resources of nurses caring for patients with cancer pain. MethodA convenience sample of 230 Korean nurses who met the eligibility criteria completed the researcher developed the Nurses' Cancer Pain Management Competency Scale and a pain management educational needs/resources survey. The Nurses' Cancer Pain Management Competency Scale was based on the pain management core competencies identified by Fishman et al (2013). Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, and construct validity was examined using exploratory factor analysis with varimax rotation. ResultsCronbach's alpha of the scale was 0.89. Nurse cancer pain management competency includes four factors, which accounted for 68.44% of the variance: the context of pain management, pain assessment and measurement, management of pain, and multidimensional nature of pain. Approximately 42% of nurses had no available protocols related to cancer pain management. Nurses preferred multi-component educational modalities, including simulation-based learning. ConclusionsFindings support internal consistency reliability and content and construct validity of the Nurses' Cancer Pain Management Competency Scale that can help examine pain management competency of nurses. Adopting an evidence-based clinical cancer pain management-related protocol and multi-component training programs are needed to achieve optimal cancer pain management competency in nurses.

Virtual care exercise interventions in multidisciplinary chronic pain clinics: a qualitative study of perspectives of adults living with chronic pain

Purpose Chronic pain affects 1 in 4 Canadians and is a leading contributor of disability. Although virtual care has become more prevalent, it is unclear how adults living with chronic pain perceive virtual delivery of exercise interventions within multidisciplinary chronic pain clinics (MCPC). This study explores the perspectives of adults living with chronic pain regarding their perceived barriers and facilitators and recommendations when implementing virtual care exercise interventions within MCPCs. Methods We conducted an interpretive description qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews with adults (age ≥18 years) living with chronic pain from a MCPC in Toronto, Canada, between March 1 and April 30, 2021. Results We completed fifteen (N = 15) interviews of adults living with chronic pain. We identified eight themes that addressed the study objectives: 1) virtual care supplements in-person care, 2) virtual care improves accessibility, 3) impact of technology on participation, 4) navigating the home environment, 5) impact of pain on participation, 6) impact of supervision and feedback, 7) the need for tailored care, and 8) the need for preparation and additional support. Conclusion Our results reveal that adults living with chronic pain view virtual care exercise interventions positively however, the implementation of these interventions must be carefully considered within MCPCs. Specifically, virtual care was considered an excellent adjunct to in-person care but should not replace it completely. Implications for Rehabilitation Chronic pain is a leading contributor of disability. Exercise interventions are recommended component of comprehensive pain management. Virtual delivery of exercise interventions are becoming more prevalent. Adults living with chronic pain view virtual care exercise interventions positively as they can supplement in-person care and improve access to this type of care.

Development of a pain journal for chronic pain management and remote monitoring

Abstract Chronic pain is a global health problem, having a tremendous effect on the quality-of-life (QoL) of patients. Monitoring the outcome of a specific therapy and the condition of the patient is of utter importance for effective pain management. A smartphone application was developed for comprehensive pain management in chronic pain patients. It allows patients to enter and keep track of their health related QoL, pain, and medication intake in an easy, fast, and regular daily routine. The app was built based on standardized questionnaires and the needs of pain specialists and patients assessed via a brief survey in a small target group. The survey showed an unmet need for applications in clinical practice, which enable comprehensive monitoring of QoL, pain, therapeutic progress, and thus allow for patient engagement and overall improved pain management. Beneficially, patients can share their reported outcome measures gathered via the app with their pain specialist via PDF exports for remote monitoring. The smartphone app has been realized and is currently evaluated in beta tests. The easy, comprehensible, and routine assessment of the patient’s condition, combined with a future integration into an online therapy management system, may further advance pain management in chronic pain patients.

Consistency of pediatric pain ratings between dyads: an updated meta-analysis and metaregression.

Accurate assessment of pediatric pain remains a challenge, especially for children who are preverbal or unable to communicate because of their health condition or a language barrier. A 2008 meta-analysis of 12 studies found a moderate correlation between 3 dyads (child-caregiver, child-nurse, and caregiver-nurse). We updated this meta-analysis, adding papers published up to August 8, 2021, and that included intraclass correlation/weighted kappa statistics (ICC/WK) in addition to standard correlation. Forty studies (4,628 children) were included. Meta-analysis showed moderate pain rating consistency between child and caregiver (ICC/WK = 0.51 [0.39-0.63], correlation = 0.59 [0.52-0.65], combined = 0.55 [0.48-0.62]), and weaker consistency between child and health care provider (HCP) (ICC/WK = 0.38 [0.19-0.58], correlation = 0.49 [0.34-0.55], combined = 0.45; 95% confidence interval 0.34-0.55), and between caregiver and HCP (ICC/WK = 0.27 [-0.06 to 0.61], correlation = 0.49 [0.32 to 0.59], combined = 0.41; 95% confidence interval 0.22-0.59). There was significant heterogeneity across studies for all analyses. Metaregression revealed that recent years of publication, the pain assessment tool used by caregivers (eg, Numerical Rating Scale, Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale, and Visual Analogue Scale), and surgically related pain were each associated with greater consistency in pain ratings between child and caregiver. Pain caused by surgery was also associated with improved rating consistency between the child and HCP. This updated meta-analysis warrants pediatric pain assessment researchers to apply a comprehensive pain assessment scale Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System to acknowledge psychological and psychosocial influence on pain ratings.

Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation Provides Prolonged Pain Relief Compared to Traditional Radiofrequency Ablation: A Real-World, Large Retrospective Clinical Comparison from a Single Practice.

BackgroundGenicular radiofrequency ablation is an established therapy for chronic knee pain. An analysis comparing different probe sizes and technologies has not yet been undertaken for this indication. This large retrospective, comparison study from a single-center comprehensive pain management practice aims to do that.MethodsOutcomes of 170 patients who underwent traditional radiofrequency ablation (tRFA) for chronic knee pain were compared to 170 consecutive patients who received cooled radiofrequency ablation (CRFA) with similar (p=0.5) pre-procedural pain scores.ResultsThe VAS pain score at the first post-procedure visit at 4–6 weeks decreased to 5.07±2.8 cm for tRFA and to 4.26 ± 3.2 cm for CRFA (p<0.001 for both from baseline). The difference was profound and significantly better in the favor of CRFA (p<0.001) as the duration of reduction of pain scores by greater than 50% was 2.6 months for tRFA and 11.1 months for CRFA. There were only 15 patients (8.8%) who continued to receive >50% of pain relief in tRFA at 12 months, as opposed to 78 (46%) at 12 months for CRFA. We compared the initial outcomes and long-term pain relief. Long-term outcomes were better for the bigger lesion size treatment group patients.ConclusionWe conclude that the duration and intensity of pain relief were of a greater magnitude after the larger diameter probe cooled RFA.

Clinical and psychosocial factors affecting treatment adherence in children with rheumatic heart disease.

The present study aimed to investigate the outcomes of psychiatric symptoms and family functions on treatment adherence in children, in addition to sociodemographic characteristics and clinical factors related to the disease. The research sample consisted of 43 children who were followed up with rheumatic heart disease diagnosis during the study. Clinical features were obtained from the patient files. The family assessment device evaluating family functioning and the strengths and difficulties questionnaire scale to screen emotional and behavioural problems in children were used. Considering the regularity of treatment in our patients, there were 31 (72%) patients adherent to secondary prophylaxis regularly, 7 (6.9%) patients were partially adherent, and 5 (11.6%) patients non-adherent. Patients were divided into treatment adherent (Group 1) and non-adherent (Group 2). There was no statistically significant impact on treatment adherence whether the patients receive enough information, lifestyle, fear of developing adverse effects, fear of addiction, lack of health insurance, difficulties in reaching the drug or hospital. However, the fear of syringes on treatment adherence had an effect statistically significantly (p = 0.047). Forgetting to get a prescription and/or take the drug when the time comes was statistically higher in the non-adherent group (p = 0.009). There was no statistically significant effect of psychosocial factors on treatment adherence between groups. Providing an effective active recall system, involving primary care workers, providing training on the disease and its management, and a comprehensive pain management programme can improve the process, especially for cases where secondary prophylaxis is missed.

Acupuncture Therapy as an Evidence-Based Nonpharmacologic Strategy for Comprehensive Acute Pain Care: The Academic Consortium Pain Task Force White Paper Update.

A crisis in pain management persists, as does the epidemic of opioid overdose deaths, addiction, and diversion. Pain medicine is meeting these challenges by returning to its origins: the Bonica model of multidisciplinary pain care. The 2018 Academic Consortium White Paper detailed the historical context and magnitude of the pain crisis and the evidence base for nonpharmacologic strategies. More than 50% of chronic opioid use begins in the acute pain care setting. Acupuncture may be able to reduce this risk. This article updates the evidence base for acupuncture therapy for acute pain with a review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on postsurgical/perioperative pain with opioid sparing and acute nonsurgical/trauma pain, including acute pain in the emergency department. To update reviews cited in the 2018 White Paper, electronic searches were conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for "acupuncture" and "acupuncture therapy" and "acute pain," "surgery," "peri-operative," "trauma," "emergency department," "urgent care," "review(s) ," "systematic review," "meta-analysis," with additional manual review of titles, links, and reference lists. There are 22 systematic reviews, 17 with meta-analyses of acupuncture in acute pain settings, and a review for acute pain in the intensive care unit. There are additional studies of acupuncture in acute pain settings. The majority of reviews found acupuncture therapy to be an efficacious strategy for acute pain, with potential to avoid or reduce opioid reliance. Future multicenter trials are needed to clarify the dosage and generalizability of acupuncture for acute pain in the emergency department. With an extremely low risk profile, acupuncture therapy is an important strategy in comprehensive acute pain care.

Retrospective review of opioid use in pediatric patients with chronic pain

Background and Hypothesis: Demographics and treatment of adult patients with chronic pain have been well characterized. The same has not been done in pediatric patients who are at increased risk of the consequences of opioid use including risk of addiction, truancy, and unemployment. We hypothesize that opioid use in pediatric patients with chronic pain leads to worse functional outcomes due to pain and maladaptive behaviors.&#x0D; &#x0D; Methods: From 2016-2019, 300 new patient consultations to the Riley comprehensive pain clinic were identified. A subpopulation interim analysis of 71 patients was retrospectively evaluated at 6-month intervals for medical, social, pain-related, and questionnaire data. Data was recorded in REDCap by a single researcher. Exported data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel.&#x0D; &#x0D; Results: Seventy-one patients were evaluated and 80% were female. Median age at diagnosis was 14 years (range birth to 18) with average follow-up of 20.5 months. Etiologies varied but contributed to neuropathic (49%), nociceptive (35%), and mixed (11%) pain syndromes. Comorbid psychiatric disorders and sleeping difficulties were present in 69% and 58%, respectively. Sixty-seven percent of age-appropriate patients graduated high school and were in college or employed on final follow-up. Patients managed with opioids did not report a change in visual analog or catastrophizing scales.&#x0D; &#x0D; Conclusion and Potential Impact: The primary demographic of pediatric chronic pain patients is adolescent females. Neuropathic pain syndromes are common, with a majority of patients exhibiting comorbid psychiatric disorders and dysfunctional sleep patterns. Use of opioid medications did not change reported pain scores, and one-third of these chronic pain patients did not attend college or were unemployed. Further analysis of our data set should help better understand the outcomes of pediatric patients with chronic pain.

Effect of Comprehensive Pain Nursing on Postoperative Pain Degree of Ureteral Calculi

Effect of Comprehensive Pain Nursing on Postoperative Pain Degree of Ureteral Calculi

Pain characteristics among individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy according to their clinical stage

BackgroundAssessment of pain is not routine, standardized, or well-understood in individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), even though pain is a common problem reported by more than half of the patients with DMD. Previous studies in this area included multiple neuromuscular diseases with highly variable phenotypes. Therefore, our aim was to specifically focus on DMD and evaluate the comprehensive pain characteristics according to the disease stages, from ambulatory to late non-ambulatory.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in an out-patient pediatric rehabilitation clinic including 148 male participants with confirmed DMD (14.5 ± 5.3 years of age). Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire concerning the pain frequency, duration, intensity, location, aggravating/relieving factors, pain interference (Brief Pain Inventory), pain phenotype (PainDETECT Questionnaire), and functional ability (DMD Functional Ability Self-Assessment Tool). Pain characteristics were analyzed according to the clinical stage: ambulatory (Amb), early non-ambulatory (ENA), and late non-ambulatory (LNA).ResultsOf the 148 participants who completed the assessment, 66 (44.6%) reported pain during the previous 4 weeks. There were no differences in the pain duration or intensity among the three groups. Pain location (Amb: calf, ENA: knee, LNA: lumbosacral region), aggravating factor (Amb: ambulation, ENA: transfer, LNA: sitting), and relieving factor (Amb: rest and massage, ENA and LNA: positional change) differed according to the clinical stage. Individuals in the LNA stage reported an increase in the frequency of pain and number of pain sites. The effect of pain on mood was also found to be greater in the LNA group than in the other clinical stages.ConclusionThere is a change in the pain characteristics, including the location, aggravating/relieving factors, pain frequency, and pain interference, with the progress of the disease in patients with DMD. Thus, clinicians could more efficiently and critically assess and manage the patients’ pain based on these findings.

Development of the Practice of Pharmaceutical Care for Cancer Pain Management in Outpatient Clinics Using the Delphi Method.

Background: There exists no broad agreement of experts on the practice of pharmaceutical care for cancer pain management in outpatient clinics. Objectives: This study aimed to use the Delphi consensus process to provide expert recommendations on the practice of cancer pain management in outpatient clinics from the point of view of pharmaceutical care in clinical practice and future clinical trials. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted to draft the initial practice. In this process, 30–40 senior experts from various provinces in China were invited to rank the items of practice during the two Delphi consultations. The definitions of consensus included a combination with an average score of ≥4, the percentage of experts rating the scores at >4 points, and the coefficient of variation of the scores. Results: The expert panel comprised 18 pharmacists, 3 anesthesiologists, 6 oncologists, and 9 nurses. As a result of a comprehensive review, 33 items were initially formed. Among them, the consensus was reached for 27 items after the first Delphi round. The other six items and a total of five items for supplementation entered the second round, among which consensus was reached for eight items and three items were excluded. Expert consensus was achieved on 35 items after two rounds of consultation, which involved the collection of patient basic information, comprehensive pain assessment, breakthrough or neuropathic pain assessment, analgesic treatment evaluation, out-of-hospital follow-up, medical records, and evidence-based documents for reference. Conclusion: The final list of 35 items could be used to develop the practice of pharmaceutical care for cancer pain management in outpatient clinics in China. The practice may aid in the standardization of pharmaceutical care for pain, relieve pain to the greatest extent possible, and enhance the level of pain management in China.

Nurses’ use of the clinically aligned pain assessment tool: A mixed methods study

BackgroundAssessment 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. AimsThis research described nurses' experience using CAPA on an adult general medicine unit and their documentation of the tool in the electronic health record (EHR) more than 5 years after CAPA implementation. DesignMixed methods exploratory sequential design. MethodsA convenience sample of nurses (N = 8) participated in 2 focus groups to describe how they used CAPA, how well it assessed pain, how it determined pain interventions, and the challenges and advantages of using CAPA. Patient EHR data (N = 373) for a 6-month period from the same unit were analyzed to evaluate CAPA documentation. ResultsQualitative themes included: benefits of using CAPA, CAPA leads to a more comprehensive picture, variation in how CAPA is used, and challenges. Quantitative findings demonstrated most frequent documentation in the comfort domain and earlier, though still delayed, reassessment when a higher level of pain was noted. Mixed methods analysis revealed variation in knowledge and practice regarding which domains to document each shift and during reassessment. ConclusionsAs 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.

Managing Pain in Low Resource Settings: Healthcare Professionals' Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Pain Management in Western Nepal.

BackgroundPain is a public health problem and affects millions of people globally. Effective pain management is possible through comprehensive pain management guidelines, adequate facilities, and trained healthcare professionals. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding pain management in Western Nepal.MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out in hospitals of Pokhara, Nepal. Healthcare professionals, including doctors, pharmacists, and nurses, were enrolled. Tools for the study were “The Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain (KASRP)” and a validated practice-based questionnaire. Frequencies and descriptive statistics were used to describe the outcomes. Kruskal–Wallis H-test and Mann-Whitney U-test were used to analyze the association between the mean rank of KASRP score and sample characteristics. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant for all statistical tests.ResultsA total of 336 healthcare professionals were enrolled in this study (108 medical doctors, 150 nurses, and 78 pharmacists). The mean KASRP scores (% ± SD) obtained by doctors, pharmacists, and nurses were 58.48±8.98, 53.01±7.80, and 52.26±6.39, respectively. A significant difference was found between the KASRP score and sample characteristics (p<0.001). The pain assessment tool is used by 96 (29%) healthcare professionals every time they meet the patients. Doctors and nurses used it more frequently as compared to pharmacists. Many of the pharmacists, 40 (51%), reported that they counsel the patients on the prescribed medicine (analgesics, NSAIDs, and opioids) every time. As only few participants had already attended a training on pain management, most healthcare professionals, 110 (33%), agreed and 198 (59%) strongly agreed that training related to pain management is needed in NepalConclusionAdequate training and support are required to enhance the knowledge, attitude and ultimately better practice for healthcare professionals regarding pain management in Nepal.

Long term outcomes of chronic pain patients attending a publicly funded community-based interdisciplinary pain program in the Greater Toronto area: results of a practice-based audit

BackgroundChronic pain management multi/interdisciplinary programs attempt to address all elements of the biopsychosocial model. The primary objective of this retrospective study (based on practice-based audit) was to determine the effectiveness of a patient-centered, comprehensive and intense interdisciplinary pain management program in a publicly funded community-based pain clinic in the Greater Toronto Area.MethodThis retrospective longitudinal study was conducted on 218 carefully selected sequential chronic pain patients, with 158 completing a 3–4-month interdisciplinary program between January 2016 and December 2018. Data collected upon exit, at 6 months and 12 months post-discharge included demographic information, pain characteristics, emotional/functional status obtained by validated instruments and global impression of change (GIC). Additionally, social health outcomes (return to work or school) were retrieved through retrospective chart review. Means of pre-and post-program variables were compared to assess changes of each patient’s “journey”.ResultsPhysical and mental/ emotional health outcomes at exit, 6 months and 12 months post-discharge, showed initial and sustained, statistically and clinically significant improvement from pre-treatment levels, with GIC (much/very much improved) reported as 77%, 58% and 76%, respectively. Additionally, a substantial positive change in social health outcomes was noted particularly in patients on disability (29%), part time workers gaining full time employment (55%), and students (71%) who improved their level of schooling.ConclusionThe study showed that careful patient selection in a community-based publicly funded interdisciplinary pain management program can produce significant improvement in pain, physical, mental/emotional health and social function, with sustained long-term outcomes.

Understanding Attitudes, Social Norms, and Behaviors of a Cohort of Post-Operative Nurses Related to Pain and Pain Management.

Despite advances in surgical techniques and peri-operative care, pain is a significant symptom post-operatively. The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes, social norms, and behaviors of a cohort of nurses of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds regarding pain and pain assessment and management. The design was a descriptive qualitative study guided by Theory of Planned Behavior and the Theory of Transcultural Nursing. The sample included six registered nurses (RNs) (two Hispanic, two African American, and two Caucasian), along with patients of the same and different cultural and ethnic backgrounds in the post-operative unit within 48 h of surgery. The nurses’ results indicated that nurses assess pain severity and patient treatment preferences yet do not conduct a comprehensive pain assessment and have limited knowledge of non-pharmacologic and complementary pain therapies. Despite knowledge of the patient’s pain history, tolerance, and cultural background, the nurses believed that “all patients should be treated the same” and were concerned about the use of opioids beyond the first 24–48 h post-operatively due to the risk of addiction and professional ramifications related to opioid administration. The conclusions are that ongoing education is needed regarding comprehensive pain assessment and pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and complementary pain therapies during the post-operative period. Discussion is needed regarding the importance of diversity and equity as it relates to cultural competence within the context of pain assessment and management to provide patient-centered individualized care.

Role of Non-pharmacological Intervention for Pain Management in Nursing Home Residents During COVID-19: A Systematic Review

Pain experienced by nursing home residents (NHRs) is a significant concern, especially in patients with cognitive impairment. In this group, pain can be revealed through agitation, facial expressions, and altered movements. Palliative care, warm blankets, and peer-led pain management are some of the non-pharmacological management options. Our aim is to explore non-pharmacological interventions used for pain control during the COVID-19 pandemic. Google Scholar and PubMed were utilized to retrieve comprehensive non-pharmacologic pain management studies published between 2020 and 2021. Some targeted studies included randomized controlled, clustered, and clinical trials. The study targeted the general global NHR population. Keywords used: “Pain Management Program”, “nursing home”, “Pain management post-COVID-19”. Seven independent analysts reviewed the study. Eleven studies investigated non-pharmacological interventions in pain management. Five met the inclusion criteria. Two studies assessed peer-led pain management programs (PAPs). The first study found that PAPs improved pain knowledge and skills of peer volunteers in nursing homes. The second study revealed that PAP significantly improved pain self-efficacy, pain inference, and quality of life. Another study showed that visually appealing digital elements such as family photographs and natural sceneries relaxed older adults with chronic pain. Using warm blankets reduced pain and agitation in one study. An improvement in pain and severity complaints, and analgesic use requests was noted. One study revealed the insignificance of palliative care residents’ comfort in the last week of life comparing intervention and control groups. Pain is a symptom often under-reported in nursing homes. Current evidence indicates the potential role of non-pharmacological interventions, mainly utilizing appealing digital devices, warm blankets, and PAP programs. This review found that non-pharmacological interventions increase awareness about pain and increase NHRs’ quality of life during COVID19 pandemic. Further studies are needed to assess effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions as pain management tools.

Role of self-efficacy for pain management and pain catastrophizing in the relationship between pain severity and depressive symptoms in women with breast cancer and pain

Purpose This study evaluated the relationship between pain and depressive symptoms through pain self-efficacy and pain catastrophizing in breast cancer patients with pain. Design Secondary analysis of a randomized trial investigating a cognitive-behavioral pain management protocol. Sample Females (N = 327) with stage I–III breast cancer and report of at least moderate pain. Methods Pain severity, pain self-efficacy, pain catastrophizing, and depressive symptoms were measured. The proposed model was assessed using structural equation modeling. Results Higher pain severity was significantly related to lower pain self-efficacy and higher pain catastrophizing. Lower pain self-efficacy and higher pain catastrophizing were significantly related to more depressive symptoms. Higher pain severity was significantly associated with more depressive symptoms through lower pain self-efficacy and higher pain catastrophizing. The association between pain severity and depressive symptoms was not significant when specified as a direct effect. Conclusion Pain severity related to depressive symptoms in breast cancer patients via pain self-efficacy and pain catastrophizing. Implications for psychosocial providers Measurement of pain self-efficacy and pain catastrophizing should be incorporated into comprehensive pain assessments for women with breast cancer, as these variables may be relevant therapeutic targets. Psychosocial symptom management interventions should include strategies that increase pain self-efficacy and decrease pain catastrophizing because these pain-related cognitive variables appear to drive the relationship between pain severity and depressive symptoms.