Pain Management Nursing最新文献

{"title":"Auricular Acupuncture in Older Women With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.","authors":"Maria Elsi Alves de Paula, Cássia Regina Vancini Campanharo, Carla Roberta Monteiro Miura, Rodrigo Luiz Vancini, Claudio Andre Barbosa de Lira, Marilia Santos Andrade, Katja Weiss, Beat Knechtle, Thomas Rosemann, Maria Carolina Barbosa Teixeira Lopes, Meiry Fernanda Pinto Okuno","doi":"10.1016/j.pmn.2026.07.025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2026.07.025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To evaluate the effects of AA on pain intensity, functional capacity, and depressive symptoms in older women with knee osteoarthritis.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>In this parallel, open-label randomized clinical trial.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>100 women aged ≥60 years with chronic knee pain were randomized to receive AA (n = 50) or sham auricular stimulation at a neutral point (n = 50), once weekly for 10 weeks. The primary outcome was pain intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale). Secondary outcomes were functional capacity (Katz Index and Lawton-Brody Scale) and depressive symptoms (15-item Geriatric Depression Scale). Data were analyzed using Generalized Estimating Equations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sixty-five participants completed follow-up. Compared with the control group, the AA group showed greater reductions in pain intensity (p < .0001), improved independence in basic activities of daily living (p = .0050), and decreased depressive symptoms (p = .0417). No differences were observed in instrumental activities of daily living (p = .8728). No adverse events were reported.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Auricular acupuncture significantly reduced pain and depressive symptoms and improved independence in older women with knee osteoarthritis.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>These findings support the safe integration of AA into comprehensive geriatric pain management.</p>","PeriodicalId":19959,"journal":{"name":"Pain Management Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148913079","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Effect of Virtual Reality Intervention on Labor Pain and Fear of Childbirth in Pregnant Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Nuray Egelioğlu Cetişli, Seda Çetin Avcı, Gülşen Işık, Simge Evrenol Öçal, İlknur Yeşilçınar, Serpil Aydoğmuş","doi":"10.1016/j.pmn.2026.08.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2026.08.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study was conducted to examine the effects of a virtual reality (VR) intervention on labor pain and the fear of childbirth in pregnant women during the active phase.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>The parallel-group randomized controlled trial with repeated measures was performed according to CONSORT guidelines.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 34 pregnant women (16 intervention, 18 control group) were enrolled in the study. Women in the intervention groups watched a 360° immersive video using a VR goggles while their cervical dilation was 6 cm and 8 cm, and their pain levels were assessed before and after the intervention using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The control group received only routine care. Fear of childbirth was assessed 24 hours after delivery using the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ). Data were analyzed using parametric tests, and effect sizes (Cohen's d and Hedges' g) were calculated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the intervention group, VR significantly reduced pain scores at both 6 cm (mean difference = 2.19, p < 0.001, Hedges' g = 0.96) and 8 cm dilation (mean difference = 1.31, p = 0.003, Hedges' g = 0.80). At 8 cm dilation, the intervention group reported significantly lower pain scores compared to the control group (p = 0.009). The mean W-DEQ scores difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.059). A moderate positive correlation was observed between post-intervention pain scores and fear of childbirth at 8 cm (r = 0.439, p = 0.025).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>VR is an effective, safe, and non-invasive method for reducing labor pain, especially in the final stages of the active phase of labor.</p><p><strong>Clinical implication: </strong>The use of VR technology in intrapartum care has the potential to foster the development of innovative, patient-centered, and evidence-based care approaches in nursing and midwifery practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":19959,"journal":{"name":"Pain Management Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148875672","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sleep Disorders, Cognitive Impairment, and Frailty in Adults With Chronic Pain.","authors":"Jin Hua Huang, Qing Song Wang, Rui Min Zhuo, Xin Yu Su, Qing Yuan Xu, Yu Hao Jiang, Yu Han Li, Song Bai Li, Lan Lan Yang, Rui Wen Zang, Chen Yang Meng, Jia Hao Deng, Si Yuan Zhao, Yang Jun Fu","doi":"10.1016/j.pmn.2026.07.022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2026.07.022","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Chronic pain is closely related to frailty. However, the corresponding associated factors are poorly understood. Given that sleep disorders (SDs) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are common associated factors for frailty, this study aimed to explore the association between SDs, MCI, and frailty in adults with chronic pain.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Cross-sectional study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 431 participants, including 175 individuals with frailty and 256 individuals without frailty, were recruited. Participants were assessed for chronic pain, frailty, MCI, and SDs. Three multivariate logistic models were constructed, and the analyses were progressively adjusted to account for sociodemographic and biopsychosocial factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Individual conditions, including SDs (odds ratio [OR] = 1.93, 1.74 and 1.72 in Models 1, 2, and 3, respectively) and MCI (OR = 3.03, 2.31 and 2.07), were associated with frailty. Adults with concurrent SDs and MCI had a greater association with frailty (OR = 3.42, 2.51, and 2.28).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>SDs and MCI were associated with frailty, and concurrent SDs and MCI were more closely related to frailty in people with chronic pain.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>The findings highlighting the association among SDs, MCI, and frailty in adults with chronic pain should be considered during the process of implementing integrated screening and assessment for SDs and MCI in chronic pain patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":19959,"journal":{"name":"Pain Management Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148813723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Central Sensitization, Sleep Disturbances and Premenstrual Syndrome: A Nursing Perspective in Fibromyalgia.","authors":"Eman Atef Elsokary, Alaa Eldin Moustafa Hamed, Manar Fathy Hamza, Mohga Fathy Hamza, Ahmed Abdellah Othman, Abeer Moustafa Barakat","doi":"10.1016/j.pmn.2026.07.023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2026.07.023","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and heightened central sensitivity. Women with FM frequently experience sleep disturbances and premenstrual syndrome (PMS), yet the interrelationship among central sensitization (CS), sleep quality, and PMS remains insufficiently understood.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To examine the associations among premenstrual syndrome (PMS) severity, central sensitization (CS), and sleep quality in women with fibromyalgia, and to test whether central sensitization mediates the association between PMS severity and sleep quality.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted among 359 women with FM attending rheumatology outpatient clinics at Cairo University Hospitals, Egypt. Data were collected using Arabic versions of the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PMSS). Analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and path analysis with mediation testing using SPSS v29 and AMOS.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants reported poor sleep quality (PSQI mean = 8.16 ± 4.06), high PMS severity (PMSS mean = 122.54 ± 15.74), and moderate CS symptoms (CSI mean = 51.75 ± 10.43). PMS severity was positively associated with CS (r = 0.487, p < .001) and negatively associated with sleep quality (r = -0.543, p < .001). CS was also negatively associated with sleep quality (r = -0.467, p < .001). Path analysis indicated that CS partially mediated the association between PMS severity and sleep quality.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Central sensitization partially mediates the association between PMS severity and sleep quality in women with fibromyalgia, highlighting the interconnected role of menstrual symptoms, central pain processing, and sleep disturbances.</p><p><strong>Implications for nursing practice: </strong>Nurses should incorporate assessment of central sensitization, sleep quality and menstrual symptom patterns when caring for women with fibromyalgia. Nursing interventions such as pain neuroscience education, cognitive-behavioral strategies, relaxation techniques and sleep hygiene counseling may help attenuate central sensitization and improve sleep-related outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":19959,"journal":{"name":"Pain Management Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148813703","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pain Intensity and Frailty in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: The Multiple Mediation Effect of Pain Catastrophizing and Fear of Movement.","authors":"Xia Wang, Zeping Yan, Chunrong Sun, Xia Zhong, Ning Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.pmn.2026.07.026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2026.07.026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to determine whether the relationship between pain intensity and frailty in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) was mediated by pain catastrophizing and fear of movement (FOM).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Patients with KOA aged 45 years or above were recruited from June to August 2024. Cross-sectional data on the patients' pain intensity, frailty, pain catastrophizing, and FOM were collected using questionnaires. Correlation analysis was performed to analyze the relationship between variables, and multiple mediation effects were analyzed using AMOS 28.0 software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Frailty was positively correlated with pain intensity (r = 0.390, p < 0.001), pain catastrophizing (r = 0.426, p < .001) and FOM (r = 0.472, p < .001). Pain catastrophizing and FOM played multiple mediating roles in the correlation between pain intensity and frailty.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings contribute to the understanding of the modifiable factors that can prevent frailty in patients with KOA. Future therapeutic interventions targeting pain catastrophizing and FOM could help prevent frailty.</p>","PeriodicalId":19959,"journal":{"name":"Pain Management Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148796626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Therapeutic Touch vs Distraction for Labor Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Zahra Bakhtiari, Roghieh Kharaghani, Roghaye Salmani, Elahe Ahmadnia","doi":"10.1016/j.pmn.2026.07.010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2026.07.010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This trial compared the efficacy of distraction and therapeutic touch for reducing labor pain in primiparous women.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>A single-center, randomized controlled trial.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A randomized controlled trial was conducted in Khalkhal County, Iran, involving 93 primiparous women at 28-32 weeks of gestation. Participants were selected through convenience sampling and then allocated via blocked randomization into three groups: distraction, therapeutic touch, and a control group receiving routine care. The intervention groups participated in structured educational sessions prior to delivery. At the onset of active labor (dilation ≥6 cm), pain intensity was assessed at multiple time points using both the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (WB-FACES) and the visual analog scale. Data were analyzed using a repeated‑measures ANOVA framework, with adjustment for covariates via ANCOVA and appropriate corrections for sphericity. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Despite baseline differences in occupation (p = .003) and education (p = .047), a significant group × time interaction emerged (p < .05). Therapeutic touch significantly reduced labor pain vs control on the visual analog scale at hours 3 (MD: -1.24, p = .041) and 4 (MD: -1.76, p = .012) and on WB-FACES at hour 4 (MD: -1.71, p = .008), representing reductions of 7.1%-9.7%. Distraction showed no significant reduction vs control. Moreover, no statistically significant difference was found between therapeutic touch and distraction.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Therapeutic touch significantly reduces labor pain vs routine care. Its comparative efficacy over distraction requires further investigation.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>Based on the trial results, therapeutic touch can be recommended as an effective nonpharmacological intervention to significantly reduce labor pain in primiparous women.</p>","PeriodicalId":19959,"journal":{"name":"Pain Management Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148796600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Examining Equitable Pain Reassessment Practices: A Pre-Post Intervention Study.","authors":"Jennifer Weatherspoon, Haleigh Kampman, Fanhong Meng, Jessica Majors, Crissy Lough, Tracy Martin, Christopher M Callahan","doi":"10.1016/j.pmn.2026.07.024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2026.07.024","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study assessed the effectiveness of two separate interventions in addressing adherence to pain reassessment protocols. The first intervention was a real-time, patient-specific electronic health record alert, and the second involved the development and implementation of an asynchronous cumulative report used to follow up with staff.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Pre-post interventional.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We evaluated changes in pain reassessment adherence following the implementation of both interventions in emergency and non-emergency departments in December 2023. Pain medication administration data were extracted from the electronic health record for patients treated at an Indianapolis-based hospital system between January 1, 2023, and January 31, 2025. Outcomes included overall adherence rates and percentage point differences by race/ethnicity, age, sex, and preferred language.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our analytic sample included 521,381 pain medication administrations, representing 70,059 unique patients. In December 2023, the overall pain reassessment adherence rate was 62% across all departments. A year later in early 2025, the adherence rate had increased nearly 10 percentage points. Adherence rates by racial/ethnic group in December 2023 were 60%, 54%, 60%, and 69% for Black/African American, Hispanic, other, and non-Hispanic White, respectively. By January 2025, adherence rates were 65%, 55%, 51%, and 72%, respectively; however, the percentage point difference between adherence rates by racial/ethnic group (compared with non-Hispanic Whites) increased among Hispanics and patients who identified their race/ethnicity as other.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our study demonstrated that although implementing electronic alert and report-based interventions may have improved pain reassessment adherence across all settings in a safety-net hospital, these interventions did not improve existing disparities.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>Findings suggest that electronic interventions should be intentionally designed with an equity focus to ensure that gains in care quality are realized across all patient populations and do not inadvertently widen existing racial and ethnic disparities.</p>","PeriodicalId":19959,"journal":{"name":"Pain Management Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148796598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Symptom Response to Low-Dose Naltrexone in Fibromyalgia: An Exploratory Analysis of the Randomized Placebo-Controlled FINAL Trial.","authors":"Maria Juul Nielsen, Henrik Bjarke Vaegter, Karin Due Bruun","doi":"10.1016/j.pmn.2026.07.020","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pmn.2026.07.020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Fibromyalgia (FM) remains difficult to manage due to a highly variable symptom profile. The \"FINAL\" randomized, placebo-controlled trial examined the efficacy of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) on pain in women with FM, showing no significant difference in pain reduction at the group level but potentially higher 30% pain response rates. Analysis of secondary outcomes showed potential improvements in memory problems.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This exploratory analysis aimed to further investigate individual responses to LDN treatment by analyzing 30% responder rates for six secondary FM outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The FINAL trial included 99 women with FM who were randomized 1:1 to treatment with LDN or placebo for 12 weeks. Based on original data from this trial, 30% response rates were assessed for the six selected secondary outcomes: tenderness, fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression, memory problems, and stiffness. Risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to assess differences between groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>No significant differences were found between treatment groups for any of the symptom response categories. The highest RR was observed for memory (RR = 1.67, 95% CI: 0.82-2.95), followed by sleep (RR = 1.28, 95% CI: 0.92-2.64), stiffness (RR = 1.26, 95% CI: 0.84-2.89, p = .47), tenderness (RR = 1.16, 95% CI: 0.88-2.67), fatigue (RR = 1.10, 95% CI: (0.78-3.13) and depression (RR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.92-2.66).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Response rates for 30% improvement in six selected nonpain outcomes were similar after 12 weeks treatment with LDN or placebo in women with FM. Larger studies investigating 30% response rates are warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":19959,"journal":{"name":"Pain Management Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148723400","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of TENS on Patient Outcomes After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Sevilay Erden, Cansel Bozer Uludağ, Ceylan Kişial, Caner Ali Akoğlu, Alişan Uludağ, Mustafa Görür, Çağatay Küçükbingöz","doi":"10.1016/j.pmn.2026.07.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pmn.2026.07.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The most common complication after laparoscopic cholecystectomy is pain. One of the nondrug methods used to reduce pain and pain-related complications in the patient is transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). This research was conducted as a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of TENS on patient outcomes following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.</p><p><strong>Design and methods: </strong>The study sample consisted of 140 patients (intervention: 70 and control: 70) who were treated in the general surgery clinic of a training and research hospital between May 2023 and May 2024 and underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. TENS was applied to the intervention group three times in 30-minute sessions within 24 hours. The control group received only the routine treatment of the clinic. Data collection tools included a \"data collection form\" and the \"Turkish Revised-American Pain Society Patient Outcome Questionnaire\" (APS-POQ-R-TR). The mean age of the patients participating in the study was 47.14 ± 11.42, 51.4% were male, and the groups were homogeneous in terms of their descriptive characteristics (p > .05). It was determined that the 1st-, 11th-, and 19th-hour rest and cough pain levels of the intervention group following the TENS intervention were significantly lower than those of the control group (p < .05). The intervention group had lower postoperative pain intensity in the first 24 hours, lower pain intensity in the 24 hours after surgery, and lower sleep time compared to the control group. Scores for pain reduction, turning in bed, walking and sitting, sleep maintenance, treatment participation (6.65 ± 1.10), and satisfaction (7.70 ± 1.30) in the first 24 hours were higher than those in the control group (p < .05).</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>The study demonstrated that TENS is an effective analgesic option for pain management after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, positively impacting comfort and treatment participation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions and clinical implications: </strong>This method should be integrated into pain management protocols and treatment plans to improve patient outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":19959,"journal":{"name":"Pain Management Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148727738","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Patients' Experiences of Discomfort in the ICU Following Open-Heart Surgery.","authors":"Elizabeth Davidson, Lee Anne Siegmund","doi":"10.1016/j.pmn.2026.07.016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2026.07.016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of patients' experiences with discomfort in the intensive care unit following open-heart surgery.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>A qualitative descriptive design was used to give participants an opportunity to express their experiences of discomfort in their own words.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Following institutional review board approval, participants were consented. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in cardiovascular step-down units. Participants were asked to reflect on their intensive care unit experiences. Thematic analysis occurred simultaneously with data collection.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Five themes emerged from participant interviews: Pain, Feeling Safe and Cared for, Physical Discomfort, Psychological Discomfort, and Expectations. Various factors both mitigated and exacerbated participants' pain, which was generally described as severe. Participants' experiences of discomfort were impacted by expectations from previous surgical encounters. Nursing care impacted participants' experiences of pain, physical discomfort, and psychological discomfort. Participants expressed that nurses' caring behaviors created feelings of safety and comfort.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study highlights that intensive care unit discomfort following open-heart surgery extends beyond pain to include sleep disturbance, device-related discomfort, confusion, and loss of dignity. Participant expectations and nursing care both influenced experiences of discomfort. Understanding discomfort from the patient's perspective can guide improvements in care and minimize the psychological effects of critical illness.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>Findings support targeted nursing interventions including assessment of nonpain discomfort, preservation of dignity, and education on what to expect to reduce distress and improve patient experiences.</p>","PeriodicalId":19959,"journal":{"name":"Pain Management Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148707400","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}