Teaching Behavioral Pain Management to Healthcare Professionals: A Systematic Review of Research in Training Programs

Abstract

Pain is a common and potentially debilitating condition. Whereas there is vast literature on developmentally appropriate behavioral techniques for pain management, results of curriculum evaluations and knowledge surveys reveal a dearth of awareness of these strategies in healthcare professionals. As a result, the development and evaluation of pain management training programs is an important endeavor. Results of studies evaluating such programs are promising and suggest that training may be an effective means of impacting healthcare professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and even patient care. These results must be interpreted with caution however, as the literature contains several conceptual and methodological limitations. These limitations, in combination with the wide diversity in program components, format of delivery, and research methods preclude definitive conclusions on the most practical and effective means to provide training. To address this question, further systematic work on the development and evaluation of pain management training programs is warranted.Perspective: To address the problems of dissemination of behavioral pain management techniques the development and evaluation of pain management training programs is an important endeavor. The current article presents a systematic review of studies evaluating such programs and provides recommendations for future systematic work in this area.Key words: Pain; training; non-pharmacological treatment; behavioral; education Teaching behavioral 3Teaching behavioral pain management to healthcare professionals: A systematic review of research in training programs Pain is one of the most common complaints of patients seeking medical 9 care with estimates of the prevalence of chronic pain ranging from 10% 6 to 50% 13 of the general adult population. Disease-related pain is also common. Up to 95% of advanced stage cancer patients report experiencing pain 23 and pain prevalence in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) has been estimated at as high as 73%. 28 Unfortunately, pain is also a common condition in childhood. In a review conducted by Goodman and McGrath, 22 prevalence estimates of recurrent abdominal pain in children ranged from 9.5% to 26.9%. In the same review, prevalence estimates of migraine and back pain in children ranged 2.5% to 7.1% and 26% to 33% respectively. Costs of painRegardless of etiology, it is indisputable that pain is a common and potentially debilitating condition. Although quantifying the "costs" of pain is difficult, research suggests that the condition can have direct effects on the individual and indirect effects on an individual's family, social networks, and society. With respects to impact on the individual, At the individual level, research has indicated that children who experience chronic or recurrent pain tend to have more school absences, 55 lower perceived academic competence, 58 and spend less leisure time with peers. 35 Childhood pain has been linked with higher anxiety in adulthood, 7 and a...

Determinants of nurses' knowledge gap on pain management in Ghana

“…The long-term benefit of effective pain management could also increase revenue for the hospital, as patients may be discharged earlier (MacLaren & Cohen, 2005). Perhaps workshops could be organised for specialties to ensure depth of information and this could increase applicability of the knowledge gained.…”

Balancing Knowledge Among Resident Specialties: Lecture-Based Training and the OUCH Card to Treat Children's Pain

“…For example, the next iteration of the OUCH card will include the revised Face, Leg, Activity, Cry, Consolability Scale observational pain tool, which shows improved reliability and validity for pain assessment in children with cognitive impairment. 39 Finally, determining best practices for the most efficient and cost-effective means of delivering pain management education is a greatly needed step 40 that may be discernible in subsequent studies. The effect of lecture versus OUCH card distribution (as well as their combination) merits further investigation in order to better understand the optimal content and format of training programs.…”

Pain Assessment and Management in Nursing Education Using Computer-based Simulations

“…Computer-based simulations provide a significant number of learning affordances that can help change nursing students' attitudes and behaviors toward and practice of pain assessment and management. Ó 2015 by the American Society for Pain Management Nursing BACKGROUND Pain is frequently an initial symptom in emergency department (ED) patients (Baharuddin, Mohamad, Nik Abdul Rahman, Ahmad, & Nik Him, 2010;Bergman, 2012;Clarke et al, 1996;Downey & Zun, 2010;Hogan, 2005;MacLaren & Cohen, 2005;Paulson-Conger, Leske, Maidl, Hanson, & Dziadulewicz, 2011;Plaisance & Logan, 2006;Safdar et al, 2009;Shaban, Holzhauser, Gillespie, Huckson, & Bennetts, 2012;Simpson, Kautzman, & Dodd, 2002;Tanabe & Buschmann, 1999, 2000. Recent research studies found pain to be present in 60% to 90% of patients arriving in EDs (Baharuddin et al, 2010;Bergman, 2012;Downey & Zun, 2010;Fry, Holdgate, Baird, Silk, & Ahern, 1999;Hogan, 2005;Tanabe & Buschmann, 2000;Thomas, 2007;Wilsey, Fishman, Ogden, Tsodikov, & Bertakis, 2008).…”

“…Children with pain can experience emotional difficulties, disruption in school attendance, and impaired social skills (MacLaren & Cohen, 2005;Rutledge & Caple, 2011). Additionally, depending on the cultural norms, patients of different ethnic groups will be more or less verbally expressive about their pain (Rutledge & Caple, 2011).…”