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Effectiveness of Pain Management Techniques in Palliative Care

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Written by
Gregory Reyes
  • Icon Calendar 15 July 2024
  • Icon Page 709 words
  • 4 min read

Introduction

Alleviation of pain and other troubling symptoms through palliative care is essential in improving the quality of life of patients with serious illnesses. Successful palliative care mainly depends on the effectiveness of pain management. Various techniques are employed to ensure successful pain control. The efficiency of these techniques relies on pharmacological therapy, non-pharmacological interventions like exercises, and complex interventions of both methods, which provide comprehensive and individual patient care to patients with serious illnesses.

Pharmacological Interventions

There are various drugs used in pain control in palliative care. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes opioids, such as morphine, as vital medicines that improve quality of life and effectively control moderate-severe pain, prolonged refractory breathlessness, and trauma (Clark et al. 2023, p. 2). In this case, the WHO identifies the effectiveness of opioids in pain management, listing them as a must-have in palliative care. By following the WHO guidelines and ensuring opioids, such as fentanyl, are not misused, healthcare providers can successfully control pain in palliative care. There is a need to provide specialized opioid education to clinical specialists to promote positive attitudes toward the use of opioids in symptom control (Clark et al. 2023, p. 11). The barriers to proper pain control are assumptions that opioid use results in addiction and side effects. Instead, clinical specialists should be informed about their advantages and disadvantages and how best to use them. Thus, opioids effectively manage pain in palliative care, as confirmed by the WHO, and education is essential to promote their usage.

Effectiveness of Pain Management Techniques in Palliative Care

Non-Pharmacological Therapies

Apart from using medication in palliative care for pain management, physical exercises are an alternative. Research on the effects of physical activities on 92 cancer palliative care patients proved that the quality of life increased, the pain reduced, and their moods improved (Myrcik et al. 2021, p. 1). This easement of pain occurs through muscle relaxation and an increase in the levels of endorphin, which is an effective pain manager in the body. In addition, exercise decreases strain and enhances mood due to the release of elements, such as serotonin and dopamine, improving the quality of life. Therefore, physical activity is one of the effective non-pharmacological pain management therapies in palliative care.

Integrative Approaches

Integrative approaches combine pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies in pain management. For instance, studies indicated that acupuncture therapy combined with medication is successful in improving opioid use disorder (OUD), proving that combining acupuncture with medicine is more efficient compared to pure medication (Chen et al. 2020, p. 2). In this case, both methods aim at the physical aspects of the pains as well as their causes since while acupuncture offers relaxation and increased levels of endorphins, the medicine addresses the symptoms to provide better outcomes that are free from opioids. The approach addresses immediate pain symptoms and long-term recovery while being attentive to the holistic and individualized models in palliative care and pain relief. Hence, combining pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods in palliative care is an essential and effective technique.

Conclusion

Pharmacological therapy, non-pharmacological interventions, and multifaceted interventions of both methods highlight the efficacy of pain management procedures in palliative care. First, the efficiency of drug therapies exists in the sense that they control trauma and pain. They are also highly recommended by the WHO. Secondly, non-pharmacological methods, illustrated by physical exercises, improve the blood flow and moods of the patients. Finally, combining medicine and physical activities successfully controls the symptoms and their causes.

Reference List

Chen, Z, Wang, R, Zhang, M, Wang, Y & Ren, Y 2020, ‘Acupuncture combined with medication for opioid use disorder in adults: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis,’ BMJ Open, vol. 10, no. 6, pp. 1-5. Available from: <https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034554>.

Clark, J, Salins, N, Daniel, S, Currow, DC, Jones, L, Pearson, M, Bunton, R, Mankel, J, Braithwaite, C, Gilchrist, M & Johnson, MJ 2023, ‘Views and experiences of opioid access amongst palliative care providers and public representatives in a low-resource setting: A qualitative interview study,’ PLOS Global Public Health, vol. 3, no. 9, pp. 1-14. Available from: <https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0002401>.

Myrcik, D, Statowski, W, Trzepizur, M, Paladini, A, Corli, O & Varrassi, G 2021, ‘Influence of physical activity on pain, depression and quality of life of patients in palliative care: A proof-of-concept study,’ Journal of Clinical Medicine, vol. 10, no. 5, pp. 1-13. Available from: <https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10051012>.

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