Testing a preoperative pain management intervention for elders¶

Abstract

The investigators examined whether elders who have been taught pain management communication skills and pain management information obtain greater postoperative pain relief than elders not taught this information. Thirty-one elders were randomly assigned preoperatively to a control or communication group in this posttest-only experiment with repeated measures. Communication group participants were taught pain management, pain communication skills, and the use of two pain-intensity scales. Control group participants were taught to use the two pain-intensity scales. Pain was measured with the McGill Pain Questionnaire Short Form. The communication group elders reported less postoperative pain over the course of their hospital stay. Pain management knowledge alone may have enabled the elders to obtain greater pain relief. Nurses may want to incorporate similar pain management information and pain communication skills when teaching elders how to obtain greater postoperative pain relief.

Improving patients’ experience and outcome of total joint replacement: the RESTORE programme

“…Studies reported interventions in patients before hip (n = 22), knee (n = 21), 500,503,[509][510][511][512][513][514][515][516][517][518][519][520][521][522][523][524][525] or either hip or knee replacement (n = 9). [526][527][528][529][530][531][532][533][534] Interventions focused on optimising pre-surgical health (n = 36), preparation for recovery in hospital (n = 27) and improving long-term outcomes (n = 18). Potential sources of bias are summarised in Appendix 8.…”

“…Extra information provided by Bitterli and colleagues, 488 Ackland and colleagues, 494 Hoogeboom and colleagues, 497 McDonald and Molony, 518 McDonald colleagues, 533 Núñez and colleagues 521 and Aoki and colleagues. …”

What information do patients waiting for and undergoing arthroplastic surgery want? Their side of the story

“…There is tentative support for the hypothesis that efforts to improve knowledge and communication skills in patients and staff may improve pain communication by people in pain and enhance pain relief (Clotfelter, 1999;McDonald et al, 2001). Ley (1985Ley ( , 1988 has shown that patients often experience difficulty understanding information and remembering what has been said.…”

Postoperative Pain Communication Skills for Older Adults

“…A study with older adults who had a total joint replacement supported a significant pain reduction for those who were taught a combination of pain management information and pain communication skills derived from the CAT attuning strategies. The intervention involved a 20-minute slide show (McDonald, Freeland, Thomas, & Moore, 2001). Results from this study did not clarify whether teaching the pain communication contributed in any significant way to the pain reduction experienced by the older adults after their surgery.…”

“…Minor changes in the films and handouts were made based on feedback from the expert and the focus group. The pain communication skill and pain management information had been previously tested using a slide show format (McDonald et al, 2001).…”