Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-94d59 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-29T07:55:05.300Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Factors influencing the control of post-operative pain in older people

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 May 2006

Donna N Brown
Affiliation:
Royal Hospitals Trust, Belfast, UK
Brendan G McCormack
Affiliation:
Royal Hospitals Trust, Institute of Nursing Research and School of Nursing, University of Ulster Belfast, UK and Faculty of Medicine, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
Helen McGarvey
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK

Extract

The purpose of this review is to discuss how healthcare professionals, and particularly nursing practice, impact upon pain management with older people (65 years and over), following surgery. The review commences with an introduction presenting why this is an important area to consider. Current available literature and findings from an ethnographic study which was designed to examine peri-operative pain-management practices with older people will then be discussed to highlight the key issues of pain assessment and management. Three overarching themes; (1) pain assessment (2) knowledge/strategies to cope with pain and (3) organization of care (culture and context), will guide the discussion. It is suggested that comprehensive pain assessment, proficient communication and multidisciplinary working, are essential to improve pain-management practices. The paper demonstrates some of the multiple and complex factors that affect the older person's pain experience and identifies possible developmental work in this field.

Type
Psychological and social gerontology
Copyright
© 2006 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)