Results
Title

Pain Management Decision Making Among Long-Term Care Physicians and Nurses.

Authors

Kaasalainen, Sharon; Coker, Esther; Dolovich, Lisa; Papaioannou, Alexandra; Hadjistavropoulos, Thomas; Emili, Anna; Ploeg, Jenny

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore attitudes and beliefs that affect decisions about prescribing and administering pain medications in older adults who live in long-term care (LTC), with a particular emphasis on those with cognitive impairment. At each of the four participating LTC facilities, data were gathered from three separate groups of health care professionals: physicians, registered nurses, and registered practical nurses. Based on grounded theory, a model was developed that highlighted critical decision points for nurses and physicians regarding pain management. The major themes that emerged from the data concerned pain assessment (lack of recognition of pain, uncertainty about the accuracy of pain assessment and diagnosis) and treatment (reluctance to use opioids, working to individualize pain treatments, issues relating to physician trust of the nurse on prescribing patterns). These findings may facilitate the development of innovative approaches to pain management in LTC settings.

Subjects

PAIN management; OLDER people; DEMENTIA; NEUROBEHAVIORAL disorders; LONG-term health care; DECISION making

Publication

Western Journal of Nursing Research, 2007, Vol 29, Issue 5, p561

ISSN

0193-9459

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1177/0193945906295522