Smerteteam kan vaere god stötte for helsepersonell ved smertelindring til rusavhengige
Sammanfattning
Background: International research shows that hospital patients with a substance dependency do not receive the pain relief they are entitled to. This may be due to a lack of knowledge about medication, use of pain mapping tools, how to approach such patients, or healthcare personnel’s attitudes. There are no studies on whether Norwegian pain teams have an impact on the pain relief of patients with a substance dependency.
Objective: To highlight the experiences of specialist nurses in pain teams with the pain relief of patients with a substance dependency.
Method: The study has a qualitative design. We conducted individual interviews with six specialist nurses in pain teams at four Norwegian hospitals, and used qualitative content.
Results: Pain teams have time for direct patient contact. Where the pain team identifies a lack of expertise among healthcare personnel, they provide support and training in how to dose and combine different medications in order to relieve pain in patients with a substance dependency. Furthermore, pain teams contribute with knowledge of substance use analysis and pain mapping, how to establish trust and a sense of security and how to communicate with this group of patients. Cooperation with healthcare personnel both inside and outside hospitals is emphasised.
Conclusion: The pain team is able to prioritise time for patients with a substance dependency and serve as a resource for patients, doctors and nurses. The results suggest that pain teams are a useful investment for meeting the need for optimum pain relief among patients with a substance dependency. The patients receive pain relief and are followed up in a treatment plan both at the hospital and after discharge.