Barriers to Effective Pain Management

Abstract

Key Messagesr Patients often have poor understanding regarding pain management, which results in low expectations of pain relief and satisfaction with inadequate pain control.r The experience of pain has long been accepted as an inevitable part of surgical intervention, but new understanding reveals a dynamic and complex nervous system which can change in response to unrelieved pain, potentially leaving permanent damage and chronic pain.r Health care professionals often lack appropriate knowledge, attitudes and skills to effectively manage pain due to inadequate education.r Local hospital regulations and policies may inadvertently inhibit the effective management of pain by causing unnecessary delays to the timely administration of analgesics.r Globally, many people are denied good pain relief due to some countries' inability to effectively import and distribute morphine for medical reasons.

Clinical Practice and Routines for Day Surgery in Sweden: Implications for Improvement in Nursing Interventions

“…14 The preoperative information and education provided by a dedicated nurse offer an opportunity to discuss previous pain experiences, expectations of postoperative pain intensity, pain management at home, and possible adverse events, which should all be explored and incorporated in the preoperative educational intervention. 15 Nurses employed in office-based surgical suites require specialized knowledge and clinical skills to offer continued, well-informed care to their patients. 16 Caring for patients during the hospital period requires skills related to administering infusions, blood or blood products, providing treatments, and monitoring the patients before and after procedures.…”

Fascia Iliaca compartment block: A nurse-led initiative for preoperative pain management in patients with a fractured neck of femur

“…Sheppard and Wright (2000) state that unrelieved pain is not only unnecessary and demoralising but morally and ethically unjustifiable, yet overcoming barriers to adequate pain relief remains a challenge for most pain teams. Carr (2007) identifies multiple barriers to effective pain relief and it is within the remit of the pain service guidelines to address these issues. Preoperative pain management for patients with a fractured neck of femur (NOF), in what is usually an elderly client group, highlights some of these barriers including:…”

Effectiveness of a Clinical Intervention to Eliminate Barriers to Pain and Fatigue Management in Oncology

“…[19][20][21][22] System barriers include reimbursement and regulatory constraints, and lack of referrals to pain specialists and supportive care services. 10,23,24 Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common symptoms experienced by patients with cancer. 25,26 Patientrelated barriers to fatigue include reluctance to report fatigue, and beliefs that fatigue is inevitable, unimportant, and untreatable.…”