A Controlled Investigation of Continuing Pain Education for Long-Term Care Staff

Abstract

Contrary to previous research, the present study found that the interactive PE program was effective in changing pain beliefs and improving knowledge. Continuing PE in LTC has the potential to address knowledge gaps among front-line LTC providers.

“A tool doesn't add anything”. The importance of added value: Use of observational pain tools with patients with advanced dementia approaching the end of life—a qualitative study of physician and nurse experiences and perspectives

“…In these cases, participants abandoned pain scores, relying instead on existing practices and protocols to inform treatment decisions. Other studies have reported similar challenges experienced by HCPs using OPTs with people with dementia …”

“…Health care professionals experience several challenges with the use of OPTs in practice. These include differentiating pain from distress, insufficient training and support for conducting pain assessments with severely cognitively impaired patients unable to self‐report, misguided perceptions regarding pain experiences and neural processing in people with dementia, and workload and other organisational/institutional pressures which restrict time available to conduct and interpret pain assessments …”

Nurses' experiences of pain management for people with advanced dementia approaching the end of life: a qualitative study

“…Acute care and nursing home nurses, however, experienced significant barriers to accessing training and practice development due to financial, travel and time constraints. Some nurses received no training in dementia; this is a significant concern given the complexities of these patients, their need for tailored care, the prevalence of dementia in these settings and the substantial evidence reporting poor outcomes for pain assessment and management in dementia as a result of inadequately trained staff (Brunier et al 1995, Closs 1996, Kovach et al 2000, Weiner & Rudy 2002, Auret & Schug 2005, Plaisance & Logan 2006, Barry et al 2012, Ghandehari et al 2013.…”

“…, Ghandehari et al . ). Poor pain management has a number of adverse outcomes for patients including the manifestation or exacerbation of neuropsychiatric symptoms, agitation, depression, challenging and resistive behaviour, and sleep disturbance (Cipher & Clifford , Hadjistavropoulos et al .…”

“…A substantial body of compelling evidence has identified deficits in nurses' knowledge of pain assessment, pharmacology, side-effects and dosing schedules and the presence of misguided perceptions regarding the use of opioids and regularly prescribed analgesics, suggesting that nursing staff are inadequately educated on the use of analgesics in palliative care for people with dementia (Kovach et al 2000, Auret & Schug 2005, Barry et al 2012, Ghandehari et al 2013. Poor pain management has a number of adverse outcomes for patients including the manifestation or exacerbation of neuropsychiatric symptoms, agitation, depression, challenging and resistive behaviour, and sleep disturbance (Cipher & Clifford 2004, Hadjistavropoulos et al 2007.…”