Chronic non-cancer pain management by nurses in specialist pain clinics

Abstract

Background: Chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) is one of the major causes of disability globally, and patients who suffer from it are a complex population, which makes it difficult to provide effective care. Specialist pain clinics and nursing professionals in them are the main care providers, but there is little research conducted in this field. Aim: To explore the attitudes and knowledge of nurses working in specialist pain clinics regarding care of CNCP patients. Methods: Qualitative phenomenological approach. Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2017 with nurses who worked in specialist pain clinics in six hospitals in southern Spain. Results: Data analysis led to the formation of two categories, ‘being trained and improving knowledge in CNCP’ and ‘the challenge of caring for patients with CNCP’, and five subcategories. Conclusion: The need for care in CNCP is not covered by nurses in all the areas it requires. Lack of time, staffing issues, and specific training in this area makes it difficult to provide care. However, some areas for improvement are proposed, such as psychological interventions, group workshops, continuous training, and multidisciplinary teams.