Date of Completion
Winter 12-10-2021
Project Type
Research Project
Degree Name
Master of Science in Nursing - Educational Leadership
Department
Nursing
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Judith Hold, EdD
Abstract
Hip fractures are known to have the highest health morbidity and mortality, especially in the aging population. Having a hip fracture comes with insurmountable pain. Older adults experiences pain differently from other populations due to physiological changes, but this population experiences an undertreatment and mistreatment for pain, resulting in negative outcomes. Current methods for pain control include pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions. Exploring different interventions for pain management is necessary so providers can implement methods that are effective in pain relief without inducing complications. The aim of this integrative review is to identify current pain management interventions and determine their effectiveness amongst hospitalized older adults with hip fractures.
Studies included analysis of interventions for pain and secondary outcomes for hospitalized older adult with hip fractures. Populations included cognitive and noncognitive patients. Electronic databases were Medline, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. The integrative literature review carried out the framework by Whittemore and Knafl’s (2005) for data collection, analysis, and synthesis. Analysis of the studies showed three interventions for pain management: Nerve blocks, multimodal, and intravenous acetaminophen. Multimodal management was the most effective in managing pain. Secondary outcomes from the interventions included decrease in opioid use, postoperative complications, and length of stay. For non-cognitive patients, using other interventions, such as a nerve block, aids in pain relief and reduces opioid use. Knowing the interventions and their contributing benefits allows providers to choose interventions that are the most appropriate for this patient population without further compromising the recovery, health, and well-being.