Abstract

SUBRAMANIAN, Pathmawathi; ALLCOCK, Nick; JAMES, Veronica  and  LATHLEAN, Judith. The Perception of Nurses and Doctors on a Care Bundle Guideline for Management of Pain in Critical Care. Aquichan [online]. 2013, vol.13, n.3, pp.336-346. ISSN 1657-5997.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore nurses' and doctors' perception on using a care bundle as a guideline for the management of pain in critical care. Despite the development of evidence-based guidelines and protocols on the management of pain in critical care, pain is still a major problem. The introduction of care bundles in critical care has improved the management of ventilated patients. A care bundle in pain management aims to reduce variations in practice. Method: This study employed a qualitative prospective design using a semi-structured, in-depth interview of 23 nurses and doctors in a critical care unit. Result: Four main themes emerged: 1) suitability to the critical care setting; 2) applicability to the critical care setting; 3) ownership of the Pain Care Bundle; and 4) necessity for current practice. The results showed a poor uptake by the healthcare professionals in managing acute pain among critically ill patients. Conclusion: The study found that nurses and doctors did not perceive the pain care bundle as a useful tool for improving pain managment, with evidence pointing to a gap between pain management practice, as described by the care bundle, and actual practice.

Keywords : Critical care; pain; pain management; nurses; perception; nursing.

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