Staff and patient misconceptions, inadequate sources of learning and professional traditions continue to affect the quality of acute pain management. However, progress has been made in the trust to overcome these factors through collaborative practice, review of education programmes and specific practice development initiatives.
Graduated compression stockings are used prophylactically on a variety of patients within acute hospitals. Anecdotal evidence suggests patients have a limited understanding of this treatment. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore patients' experiences of compression stockings and to ascertain perceptions of their use. Information was gathered using telephone interviews from a sample of 12 adults who had been patients within the past 2 months, and who had worn compression stockings for more than 48 hours. The results showed that patients received little or no information from healthcare staff regarding compression stockings, but that they did have knowledge from other sources, such as long-haul flight advice. This raises issues of informed consent and patient empowerment and highlights the need for both verbal and written information. The information gained informed a patient information leaflet, which was developed in partnership with a patient focus group.
Staff and patient misconceptions, inadequate sources of learning and professional traditions continue to affect the quality of acute pain management. However, progress has been made in the trust to overcome these factors through collaborative practice, review of education programmes and specific practice development initiatives.
Under-treated pain can result in a number of potentially serious sequelae (Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, 2006), including delayed mobilization and recovery, cardiac complications, thromboses, pulmonary complications, delayed healing, psychosocial problems and chronic pain syndromes. This article considers pain management in the context of painful wounds. An international comparative survey on wound pain (European Wound Management Association, 2002) found that practitioners in the wound care community tend to focus on healing processes rather than the patient's total pain experience involving an accurate pain assessment and selection of an appropriate pain management strategy. Procedural pain with dressing removal and cleansing caused the greatest concerns. An overview of simple, evidence-based drug and non-drug techniques is offered as potential strategies to help minimize the experience of pain.
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