Wound Related Pain Management in a Community Healthcare Setting

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Courtney Leigh Murphy (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: Chronic wounds affect millions of individuals in the United States with a large percentage of these individuals experiencing wound-related pain. Dressing removal has been reported to be the most painful procedure related to wound care. Pain is typically well controlled in the hospital setting , but once the patient leaves , pain control becomes more difficult in the community setting. It is not clear why pain management is more difficult for community-dwelling individuals. The purpose of this program evaluation is to evaluate pain management strategies in a community-dwelling population. The setting for this program evaluation is an outpatient wound healing clinic in rural eastern North Carolina which serves between 50-60 individuals/day. Clients of all ages receive wound care for diabetic ulcers , pressure ulcers , trauma wounds , and burns. In collaboration with a wound care Registered Nurse , a chart audit tool was developed to evaluate factors such as demographic profile , wound type , dressing type , pain management strategy , pain scale during wound care , and dressing change frequency. The audit tool will also look at if the patient's reported pain is controlled or uncontrolled , and if a change in the management plan was documented for those with uncontrolled pain. These factors will be compared to the most recent evidence-based practices for wound management.

Additional Information

Publication

Thesis

Language: English

Date: 2017

Keywords

Program evaluation, chart audit tool, wound care, pain management, non-pharmacologic therapies, best practice guidelines

Subjects

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