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Dementia, stoicism among barriers to pain management in long-term care

Date:
September 17, 2013
Source:
RCN Publishing Company
Summary:
Patients’ inability to communicate because of sensory or cognitive impairment can be a significant barrier to pain management, according to researchers.
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Patients' inability to communicate because of sensory or cognitive impairment can be a significant barrier to pain management, according to researchers writing in the journal Nursing Older People.

A study of nurses working in selected long-term care homes in Ireland found that cognitive barriers, such as delirium and dementia, and sensory problems such as hearing and vision deficit, put patients at risk of receiving sub-optimal treatment.

The authors also reported that patients' attitudes, such as stoicism and the need to hide their pain from others, were perceived by nurses to be a significant barrier to providing appropriate pain relief.

'It is therefore essential that patients are encouraged to verbalise their pain to family and care staff,' the researchers said.

The study also revealed organisational and caregiver-related barriers to pain management. For example, staff might attribute the behaviour of patients with dementia to causes associated with the dementia rather than considering where the behaviour was a result of pain. This could lead to inappropriately prescribing antipsychotics.

The authors advocate ongoing education on pain for all caregivers working in long-term care facilities with particular emphasis on the practical application of observational tools, such as the Abbey pain scale for use in patients with dementia.


Story Source:

Materials provided by RCN Publishing Company. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Mary Egan, Nicola Cornally. Identifying barriers to pain management in long-term care. Nursing Older People, 2013; 25 (7): 25 DOI: 10.7748/nop2013.09.25.7.25.e455

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RCN Publishing Company. "Dementia, stoicism among barriers to pain management in long-term care." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 17 September 2013. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130917124813.htm>.
RCN Publishing Company. (2013, September 17). Dementia, stoicism among barriers to pain management in long-term care. ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 5, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130917124813.htm
RCN Publishing Company. "Dementia, stoicism among barriers to pain management in long-term care." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130917124813.htm (accessed October 5, 2024).

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