9.4.3 The influence of health care professionals’ pain experience on patients’ pain management (282)

Dimitrios Theofanidis, Staff Nurse, Nursing, TAP-OTE, Thessaloniki, Greece Co authors: Xenofon Fitsioris & Ourania Paediaditaki

Abstract:

Background:

This study was designed to gain insight into the way the personal experience of pain affects the attitude of Health Care Professionals (HCPs) towards the management of pain. The research was undertaken between May and September 2004. It was conducted in a Greek general hospital.

Aims:

To explore the influences of the HCPs’ personal experiences of pain upon their professional attitudes towards their patients. This pilot study also attempted to examine potential positive attributes between nurses’ personal pain history and the way this affected the management of patients’ pain during their routine work.

Methods:

Qualitative methods of enquiry were employed and a phenomenological approach was adopted, based on un-structured interviews. Five HCPs who had had personal experience of pain during hospitalization participated in this study. Data collection took place, in the individuals’ natural setting i.e. in the hospital where they worked.

Results:

The content of the interviews were coded into appropriate categories. Four major themes emerged: changing role from being a HCP to being a patient in pain; the HCPs’ views of their own pain; the influence that personal experience of pain has on HCPs’ relationships with patients; suggestions from the HCPs for improving their pain management skills.

Discussion:

The staff showed insufficient knowledge of pain management. There was agreement that personal experience of pain was a chance for self-criticism. After this experience they were more aware of problems of pain management and the patients’ needs while they were experiencing pain.

Conclusions:

Personal experience of pain can make a HCP more astuteley aware of the patients’ pain and their needs in relation to that pain. It also gave the HCPs a chance to be self-critical of their own personal standards as HCPs and to adopt new ways of delivering pain relief once they returned to the work force.

Biography:

Short CV DOB: 31/01/1969 nationality: greek status: married, two children studies Currently attending the Professional Doctorate in Health at Bath University. 1) University of Loverpool : MSc (Nurs), 1995 2) old swan college, liverpool: TFLA, 1995 3) technological educational institute of thessaloniki, bsc (Nurs)1993 4) Higher School of Paedagological Studies, Thessaloniki, Greece: Post Graduate Diploma in Education, 2002 5) Higher School of Paedagological Studies, Thessaloniki, Greece: Post Graduate Diploma in Counseling, 2005 6) Greek National Centre of Continuing Education: Registered Clinical Educator, 2001 Professional Experience 1) 08/08/2003-today, Staff Nurse tap-ote (greek telecome), Thessaloniki, Greece 2) 04/02/2003-07/08/2003, Staff Nurse (orthopaedic ward), “Panagia” Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece 3) 01/06/1999-04/02/2003, Staff Nurse (A&E Department ), "Papageorgiou" Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece 4) 01/04/1995-30/10/1997 Nurse – Research Assistant, Stroke Unit, Fazakerley Hospital, Liverpool, UK. 5) 02/07/1993-28/08/1993 Staff Nurse, children’s summer camp of n. Michaniona, Greece. 6) 01/09/1991-30/04/1992 and 01/10/92-30/12/92 Colunteer Nurse, Withington Hospital, Manchester, UK. 7) 26/11/1997-26/05/1999 nurse during the military service. teaching experience 1) 20/09/1998-28/02/2005, Part Time nurse Tutor, Department of Nursing, Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Greece 2) 23/09/20002-19/05/2004 Part Time Nurse Tutor, Vocational Nursing Training Institute of Thessaloniki, Greece Editorial Board Member Member of the International Advisory board for Nurse Education Today