Abstract
Problem Statement: Managing chronic pain in older adults is a significant healthcare challenge due to its complexity and high costs. Conventional treatments often fall short, leading to increased opioid use. As a result, many older adults seek alternatives like acupuncture and acupressure, which have shown promise as non-pharmacological pain management approaches.
Purpose: The project explores non-pharmacological alternatives for managing chronic pain in older adults, focusing on acupuncture and acupressure as potential solutions.
Methods: The Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice (JHNEBP) model focuses on clinical decision-making with user-friendly implementation tools for individuals or groups. The study followed a quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design to assess the impact of educational interventions on nurses' attitudes and knowledge regarding CAM.
Setting: The research was conducted in a small hospital's med-surge unit in the Southwestern United States. The unit has one floor, three corridors, and 58 beds and serves local and nearby communities.
Sampling Method: Purposive sampling was employed, selecting registered nurses with at least two years of med-surge unit experience and a valid nursing license. Nurses from other units or who do not directly work with patients were excluded.
Analysis: The analysis focused on nine vital CAM-related items: initiation, benefits, risks, and knowledge. Post-test results showed improved nurses' likelihood of referring patients to CAM practitioners, rising from 18 in the pretest to 25 in the post-test.
Implications for Nursing Practice: Acupuncture and acupressure offer viable non-pharmacological alternatives to opioids for managing chronic pain. However, as CAM therapies are often not covered by insurance, nurses must provide comprehensive information to help patients make informed decisions about their care.
Implications for Nursing Research: More research is needed to assess the safety and effectiveness of CAM therapies, particularly for older adults who may struggle with conventional medications. Future studies should explore how these therapies can reduce opioid use, improve mobility, and enhance quality of life in this population.
Implications for Nursing Education: Nurses' knowledge of CAM therapies is limited, highlighting the need for ongoing education. Special in-service training can improve nurses' understanding of non-pharmacological pain management options.
Notes
References:
Bingham, B., Knisely, M. R., Shade, M., & Sowicz, T. J. (2021, June 1). Engaging Pain Management Nurses in Research and Evidence-Based Practice. Pain management nursing. https://www.painmanagementnursing.org/article/S1524-9042(21)00061-8/fulltext
Germossa, G. N., Helleso, R., & Sjetne, I. S. (2019, September 4). Hospitalized patients' pain experience before and after introducing a nurse-based pain management program: A separate sample pre and post-study. BioMed Central. https://bmcnurs.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12912-019-0362-y
Johns Hopkins nursing evidence-based practice. (2022, March 19). Upstate Medical University. https://guides.upstate.edu/c.php?g=1023176&p
Kim, M., & Kim, L. (2021, November 2). Effects of Acupressure on Pain, Flexibility, and Substance P in Middle-Age Women with Chronic Neck Pain. https://eds-p-ebscohost-com.regiscollege.idm.oclc.org/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=3&sid
Zah, V., Brookfield, R. B., Imro, M., Tatovic, S., Palivanovic, J., & Vukicevic, D. (2019, November 8). Healthcare costs and resource utilization in chronic pain patients treated with extended-release formulations of Tapentadol, Oxycodone, or morphine stratified by type of pain: A retrospective claims analysis, 2012–2016. PubMed Central (PMC). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6850678/
Sigma Membership
Pi Epsilon at-Large
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Quasi-Experimental Study, Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Acute Care, Chronic Pain, Aged, Older Adults, Non-Pharmacological Pain Management
Recommended Citation
Udoh, Grace Inyangedo, "Educational Intervention on CAM to Mitigate Chronic Pain in Older Adults" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 53.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/presentations_2025/53
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Educational Intervention on CAM to Mitigate Chronic Pain in Older Adults
Seattle, Washington, USA
Problem Statement: Managing chronic pain in older adults is a significant healthcare challenge due to its complexity and high costs. Conventional treatments often fall short, leading to increased opioid use. As a result, many older adults seek alternatives like acupuncture and acupressure, which have shown promise as non-pharmacological pain management approaches.
Purpose: The project explores non-pharmacological alternatives for managing chronic pain in older adults, focusing on acupuncture and acupressure as potential solutions.
Methods: The Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice (JHNEBP) model focuses on clinical decision-making with user-friendly implementation tools for individuals or groups. The study followed a quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design to assess the impact of educational interventions on nurses' attitudes and knowledge regarding CAM.
Setting: The research was conducted in a small hospital's med-surge unit in the Southwestern United States. The unit has one floor, three corridors, and 58 beds and serves local and nearby communities.
Sampling Method: Purposive sampling was employed, selecting registered nurses with at least two years of med-surge unit experience and a valid nursing license. Nurses from other units or who do not directly work with patients were excluded.
Analysis: The analysis focused on nine vital CAM-related items: initiation, benefits, risks, and knowledge. Post-test results showed improved nurses' likelihood of referring patients to CAM practitioners, rising from 18 in the pretest to 25 in the post-test.
Implications for Nursing Practice: Acupuncture and acupressure offer viable non-pharmacological alternatives to opioids for managing chronic pain. However, as CAM therapies are often not covered by insurance, nurses must provide comprehensive information to help patients make informed decisions about their care.
Implications for Nursing Research: More research is needed to assess the safety and effectiveness of CAM therapies, particularly for older adults who may struggle with conventional medications. Future studies should explore how these therapies can reduce opioid use, improve mobility, and enhance quality of life in this population.
Implications for Nursing Education: Nurses' knowledge of CAM therapies is limited, highlighting the need for ongoing education. Special in-service training can improve nurses' understanding of non-pharmacological pain management options.
Description
Chronic pain in older adults is challenging and costly to manage. Conventional treatments often fail, leading older adults to seek alternatives like acupuncture and acupressure. This project explores such options using the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice model. Post-intervention, CAM knowledge and referrals increased. CAM therapies offer cost-effective alternatives to opioids, warranting further research and nurse education on non-pharmacological pain management.