Nurses' experiences of pain management in end-of-life dementia care: a literature review. (2nd March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: May, Kerry; Scammell, Janet
• Is Part Of: International journal of palliative nursing. Volume 26:Number 3(2020)
• Page Start: 110
• Page End: 118
• Publication Date: 2020-03-02
• Subjects: dementia -- end of life -- pain management -- nursing -- education; Palliative treatment -- Periodicals; Terminal care -- Periodicals; 616.029
• DOI: 10.12968/ijpn.2020.26.3.110
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1357-6321

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Nurses play an important role in assessing and managing pain. However, this is often poorly managed for people living with dementia. Aim: To explore nurses' experiences of pain management in end-of-life dementia care. Methods: Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a systematic narrative review of research papers published in English between 2008 and 2018 was conducted. Data sources were CINAHL, Medline, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect and SocIndex. Articles focused on nursing at the end of life and pain management in people with dementia. Findings: Eight articles were retrieved that met the search criteria. Four studies used qualitative methodology, two quantitative and two mixed methods. Studies from the UK dominated ( n =5), the remainder were from Sweden, Norway and the US. Following thematic analysis, three themes were identified: training and education in pain management at the end of life for people with dementia, challenges in identifying pain and pain assessment tool use. Conclusion: The review revealed inadequate education for nurses concerning end-of-life care for people living with dementia, notably concerning pain recognition and use of assessment tools. It is recommended that specialist education is mandated for all nurses working with this client group to improve care delivery.