Non-Opioid Pain Modalities: Reducing Opioid Dependency and Improving Pain Management

Disciplines

Alternative and Complementary Medicine | Health and Medical Administration | Medicine and Health Sciences | Quality Improvement

Abstract (300 words maximum)

Abstract

Background: Effective pain management is a vital component of the healing process. Current practice is the use of multiple opioids while in hospital facilities, which also results in patients, after being discharged, being unable to manage their pain without the myriad of scheduled and PRN opioid medications that they had grown accustomed to.

Significance & Purpose: This issue impacts not only the in-patient population but also the United States as a whole, as we’re faced with the ever-growing opioid epidemic. The overall purpose of this evidence-based project is to 1) Adequately determine the needs of in-patient clients who are experiencing acute, post-operative, and chronic pain and 2) evaluate the effectiveness of non-opioid interventions on long-term pain management and the ever-growing state of the opioid epidemic.

Literature Review & Proposed Project: Data and observations will be collected from five research studies that detail the use of non-opioid pain management alternatives such as acupuncture, guided imagery, deep breathing, NSAIDs, etc. In these research studies, patients reported higher pain management satisfaction ratings, which adds to the credibility of the implemented methods. In order to implement the findings of those studies into this evidence-based project, similar strategies and the use of pain scale monitoring tools that allow for adequate patient communication will be implemented.

Evaluation: Conclusions will be derived from pain management effectiveness, overall patient satisfaction, and the trend of readmission on the basis of pain. In addition to this, there will be an evaluation of nurses’ observations of how often patients request the administration of PRN opioids. This evidence-based project will challenge healthcare professionals to be a part of the solution of the increasing opioid dependency crisis in the United States.

Keywords: Pain management, non-opioid alternatives, chronic pain, acute pain, opioid epidemic

Academic department under which the project should be listed

WellStar School of Nursing

Primary Investigator (PI) Name

Lilian Chira

Additional Faculty

Dr. Christie Emerson, WellStar School of Nursing, cemerson@kennesaw.edu

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Non-Opioid Pain Modalities: Reducing Opioid Dependency and Improving Pain Management

Abstract

Background: Effective pain management is a vital component of the healing process. Current practice is the use of multiple opioids while in hospital facilities, which also results in patients, after being discharged, being unable to manage their pain without the myriad of scheduled and PRN opioid medications that they had grown accustomed to.

Significance & Purpose: This issue impacts not only the in-patient population but also the United States as a whole, as we’re faced with the ever-growing opioid epidemic. The overall purpose of this evidence-based project is to 1) Adequately determine the needs of in-patient clients who are experiencing acute, post-operative, and chronic pain and 2) evaluate the effectiveness of non-opioid interventions on long-term pain management and the ever-growing state of the opioid epidemic.

Literature Review & Proposed Project: Data and observations will be collected from five research studies that detail the use of non-opioid pain management alternatives such as acupuncture, guided imagery, deep breathing, NSAIDs, etc. In these research studies, patients reported higher pain management satisfaction ratings, which adds to the credibility of the implemented methods. In order to implement the findings of those studies into this evidence-based project, similar strategies and the use of pain scale monitoring tools that allow for adequate patient communication will be implemented.

Evaluation: Conclusions will be derived from pain management effectiveness, overall patient satisfaction, and the trend of readmission on the basis of pain. In addition to this, there will be an evaluation of nurses’ observations of how often patients request the administration of PRN opioids. This evidence-based project will challenge healthcare professionals to be a part of the solution of the increasing opioid dependency crisis in the United States.

Keywords: Pain management, non-opioid alternatives, chronic pain, acute pain, opioid epidemic