The use of Japanese Scalppuncture as a nursing intervention in patients with pain

Abstract

The experience of pain by an individual, whether acute or chronic, is an event that causes a variety of disorders that in most cases have repercussions on negative events beyond the physical field. In the midst of clinical practice, it is perceived that pain aggravates other conditions. In general, pain causes feelings of vulnerability and helplessness, limits a person’s daily activity, socially as well leisurely, tending to influence people’s quality of life.1 Contemporary medicine has worked to find pathways and treatments to relieve or reduce pain experienced by people. Tremendous advances have been made in pain management, especially in the area of pharmaceuticals.2 However; the side effects associated with the use of pharmaceuticals products are a cause for concern. In the nursing context, the NANDA-I taxonomy3 established since 1986 the diagnosis of chronic pain (00133) and 10 years later NANDA-I published the diagnosis of Acute Pain (00132). But, it is noteworthy to note that the author Gordon4 has used the terminology “acute pain” as a nursing diagnosis since 1986. In addition to this historical context, it is underscored that pain is still a common diagnosis identified by nursing professionals.5 A review of literature demonstrates that the nursing diagnosis of acute pain is more common in patients in medical clinics6 and chronic pain occurs more frequently in patients in surgical clinics.7 This human response, pain, needs an adequate and effective therapeutic intervention, offering the minimum of risks and side effects. To assist, collaborating for a safe and resolute practice a nurse can use alternatives practices of care. An alternative practice aims to assist an individual in all aspects, whether in prevention, treatment or cure, considering the human as a holistic being. Among alternative caring practices, a nurse, in many countries, autonomously use elements of traditional Chinese medicine, such as acupuncture. There are many therapeutic indications for acupuncture, among them the treatment of pain.8 A differentiated technique, which has been used around the world, is the Japanese Scalppuncture. This technique main characteristic are the ease of application and low invasiveness, which reduces the risks.9 Thus, we perceive that acupuncture can be a caring technology that cooperates effectively in the nursing process. As a result, the present study aims to present the measures of the perception of well being, after the use of Japanese Scalppuncture in patients with acute pain and chronic pain.