Analysis of the Non-Pharmacological Methods of Pain Management

Non-Pharmacological Methods of Pain Management
An Education Tool for Graduate Students
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Non-Pharmacological Methods of Pain Management
An Education Tool for Graduate Students
Chronic pain is considered one of the most common health conditions that significantly affect individuals' daily activities. The prevalence of chronic pain ranges from 13-25% of the general population. Aside from the sensory disturbances that this condition brings, it is also harmful to a patient’s psychological state due to the numerous activities that cannot be done when there is a chronic pain attack (Nøst et al., 2016). Some of these activities include finishing household chores, engaging in sexual activities, and attending social gatherings. Due to this, patients with chronic pain are associated with anxiety, depression, the feeling of helplessness, and dissatisfaction (Sylwander et al., 2020). In treating chronic pain, the most common intervention is pharmacological drugs to help alleviate the pain. However, an adverse effect of treating chronic pain with pain medications is the long-term use of drugs, leading to drug dependence, tolerance, and affectation involving the organ systems.
This paper aims to discuss the learning tool that will be implemented in the hospital to educate nurses, clients, and patients about the various non-pharmacological treatment options available for chronic pain and the benefits of these alternative treatments compared to solely using prescribed drugs.
Teaching/Learning Need
The learning/teaching tool originated from the observed need to educate nurses and patients suffering from chronic pain regarding the possible options available as part of chronic pain management—specifically, those nurses and patients in the hospital's emergency department. Since the most common intervention to address pain are pharmacological treatment, nurses and patients already see this as the standard for chronic pain management. However, there are various side effects and long-term consequences of prolonged reliance and use of pain medications that the target audience needs to be more knowledgeable about. In educating and promoting non-pharmacological interventions for pain, the teaching/learning tool will promote critical thinking skills among nurses and other health care providers in evaluating, analyzing, and treating patients with chronic pain. In line with this, the nurses will assess the patient and suggest the most appropriate treatment intervention, backed by evidence-based research for that specific case. These will then promote the overall profession of the nurses because this project will promote innovation and continuous education in the health care system.
Teaching Tool Development
The teaching tool used is a PowerPoint presentation showcasing the different alternatives to pharmacological intervention for chronic pain, including the health benefits and pros and cons of each intervention to promote informed decision-making when patients decide regarding their chronic pain management plan. The tool will be a multimedia presentation with voiceover, short clips, animations, and readable texts that will impart relevant information to viewers in a short period. In developing the learning tool, the target audience is different learning styles, and levels of understanding regarding the topic were considered. For these concerns, a multimedia PowerPoint presentation is a promising learning tool to spread knowledge and awareness in the emergency department unit. For example, auditory learners will prefer the informative voiceover and audio from the clips, while visual learners will find the concise texts and videos more engaging. The construction and use of words were also done carefully to ensure that it is clear, concise, and easy to understand, even for patients who are not knowledgeable and well-versed in the medical field. In addition to these, brochures are also developed to support the multimedia PowerPoint presentation and make the learning tool more convenient even for those who cannot stay and view the presentation in the emergency department unit.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a branch of rehabilitative health science that maintains, enhances, or restores the function of an individual through the use of exercises and modalities. Physical therapists have licensed professionals in charge of creating a treatment plan suitable for the patient in all rehabilitation phases. Physical therapy interventions address pain, among other impairments, and benefit patients with chronic pain. One of the main goals of physical therapy is to eliminate pain so patients can perform activities of daily living and participate in social settings. The physical therapy treatment plan involves the use of movement science and machines specifically for pain management. Physical therapy and its involvement in pain management prevent the unwanted side effect of pain medications such as drug dependence, gastrointestinal tract toxicity, and liver damage, especially among the elderly and compromised adults (Zhang et al., 2020).           
Acupuncture
           The concept behind acupuncture involves the modulation of painful stimuli by inhibiting neurotransmitters and the facilitation of endogenous opioid release. This is an alternative pain management intervention because it has reduced pain both for post-surgical conditions and musculoskeletal affectation. In a research study, acupuncture was used in the military to reduce pharmacological pain management due to its side effects that affect how the patients perform in their military duties. There were reports of drowsiness and impaired cognition, but drug dependence is also one of the main concerns. Acupuncture gained positive comments and feedback regarding pain reduction and may even be used as an adjunct to physical therapy rehabilitation in an acute setting (Crowell et al., 2020).  
Positioning
One of the standard pain management methods that nurses and patients can use is proper positioning of the painful area. This method increases the comfort of the patient and promotes relaxation when the position of comfort is found. A related intervention that is also used in conjunction with proper positioning is the use of comfort devices. These comfort devices refer to air/water mattresses, air rings, pillows, etc. (Khalil, 2018). Proper positioning with optional comfort devices can be used as pain intervention in hospitals and even at home when chronic pain is triggered. In addition to pain relief resulting in decreased intake of pain medications, proper positioning is also favored because of its uncomplicated and cost-effective nature, which still yields results to pain relief (Kia et al., 2021).
Breathing Techniques
Breathing is a quick and easy pain treatment, specifically deep breathing. This intervention decreases the tension in the body’s muscles and connective tissues, promoting relaxation. In chronic pain cases, the patient's muscles are most often tensed due to the long-term pain experienced, which also creates a cycle contributing to more tension and pain. Breathing techniques, such as deep breathing and diaphragmatic breathing, dampens pain receptor sensitivity and modulates the activation of the sympathetic nervous system that influences the pain perception of the patient (Kia, 2021). An example of this intervention is when a chest tube is being pulled out of a patient t...