A Qualitative Study of the Postoperative Pain Management Educational Needs of Total Joint Replacement Patients.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The majority of patients undergoing total joint replacement (TJR) experience surgical pain in the early postoperative period and managing pain can be challenging for orthopedic surgeons and their patients.

AIMS:

The objective of this study was to better understand the postoperative pain management education needs of elective total joint replacement patients.

DESIGN:

This study had a descriptive phenomenological, qualitative design using individual interviews.

SETTINGS:

Nine orthopedic surgeons offices in 8 states.

PARTICIPANTS/SUBJECTS:

Twenty-seven patients (mean age: 71 years; 74% female; 78% non-Hispanic white) completed the interview.

METHODS:

Patients were interviewed using open-ended questions, which included experiences with surgical pain after surgery and how it was managed, experiences with pain medicine, experience using non-medicine-related pain reduction methods, and suggestions for delivery of pain management information.

RESULTS:

Challenges identified for managing postoperative pain included loss of pain control and lack of information about prescribed opioids and nonopioid methods of managing pain. Facilitators included having a caregiver or family member in a health care field and previous experience managing postoperative pain. Participants believed that information about pain management would be helpful and should be delivered at multiple time points.

CONCLUSIONS:

With trends toward shorter hospital stays, as well as the growing opioid epidemic and the associated concerns regarding prescribing opioids, home-based pain management should be a priority. Interventions should include education about narcotic use and abuse as well as nonmedication approaches to pain management.

• Authors: Celeste A Lemay, Kenneth G Saag, Patricia D Franklin
• Journal: Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses (Pain Manag Nurs) Vol. 20 Issue 4 Pg. 345-351 (08 2019) ISSN: 1532-8635 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 31109879 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2018 American Society for Pain Management Nursing. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Arthroplasty, Replacement (adverse effects, methods)
• Female
• Humans
• Interviews as Topic (methods)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pain Management (methods, psychology)
• Pain, Postoperative (nursing)
• Patient Education as Topic (methods, standards)
• Qualitative Research