Research Assignment: Pain Management Strategies for Elderly Patients

This assignment focuses on pain management in elderly patients, identifying the need for research in this area due to the increasing aging population and associated health conditions. The research objective is to equip geriatric nurses with relevant information on pain management through regular training. The assignment utilizes a nursing database (CINAHL) to find a relevant research article by Cavalieri (2017) and identifies how the research can be used to change practice by implementing pain management skills. A qualitative research approach is selected, with data collection through interviews, questionnaires, and surveys. The assignment concludes by outlining two ways the research findings could be used to change practice, including educational meetings and in-service interventions. References are provided, highlighting the importance of evidence-based practice in healthcare.

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PART B
This section consists of short answer questions. All questions must be answered.
1. Identify one area of practice that you think research may be required to improve practice in
that area and provide a rationale for why you have selected that area of practice. (For
example, acute care nurses require more education on the care of patients with dementia)
Pain management among the elderly is one area that research is required. This is due to the ever
increasing ageing population with complex health conditions such as cancer, arthritis leading to
severe pain among the elderly. Research in this area will therefore reduce pain among the elderly
and improve their well-being.
2. Establish a research objective for the chosen issue. (For example, “Develop and implement
an educational intervention for acute care nurses on the care of the patient with dementia”)
The objective of research in this particular area is to equip geriatric nurses with relevant information
about pain management of the elderly. This can therefore be achieved through regular training to
ensure that all nurses in the geriatric department are well versed with different means to main pain
among the elderly.
3. Using a nursing database (for example, CINAHL) find one research article related to the issue
identified. Ensure that you compare articles you find in the database to ensure that the one
you select is relevant, reliable and current. Provide a reference (APA format) for the article
below.
Cavalieri, T. A. (2017). Managing pain in geriatric patients. Journal of the
American Osteopathic Association, 107(Supplement 4), ES10.
The aim of this article is to provide different strategies that can be used to manage pain among the
elderly. This is due to the several reports indicating that elderly patients experience pain due to
chronic conditions like cancer and arthritis. I chose this article since it is very informative and it is
also written in a systematic manner.
4. From the article you have chosen, identify one way in which the research could be used to
change practice. (For example, Dementia Care workshops for acute care nurses result in
higher levels of patient satisfaction and so Dementia Care workshops will be introduced for
all acute care nurses)
Recent studies note that the aged individuals are either untreated or undertreated for pain.
The studies also note that some of the barriers to proper management of pain include lack of
standardized pain management strategies. Similar studies illustrate that between 25 and 50% of
community living elderly experience pain but little has been done to avert the health problem. The
study will therefore review different pain management skills such as pharmacological and non-
pharmacological approaches. After the review, the best strategies will be implemented. The research
will therefore improve practice by reducing the prevalence of pain among elderly and improve on
their well-being.
Different studies also suggest that geriatric patients experience a lot of pain such that they cannot
engage in routine or daily activities. Furthermore, the elderly are at risk of falls and this also cause
pain. Another study notes that most of the elderly spend most of their time in healthcare facilities

and this creates a shortage of facilities to be used by other patients. This research will therefore
provide solutions to pain management so that the affected patients are discharged early and free up
space to be used by other patients.
5. For your chosen issue and research objective, select an appropriate research approach and
data collection method. Then provide a rationale for your chosen approach and data
collection method. (For example, Qualitative approach/ Survey)
Since this is a research that focus on educating or implementing pain management strategies among
the elderly, the best approach would be a qualitative approach. Data will be collected through
interviews, questionnaires and surveys. Study will mostly focus on institutions that have
implemented pain management strategies. The rationale for using this approach i.e. qualitative
research is to provide a deeper analysis. To focus deeper rather than just considering ranks.
Furthermore, this approach also records attitudes, feelings and certain behaviours. The approach
also seeks to create openness and motivate people to widen their responses which can also create
new and related topics for research.
6. Imagine you have completed a research study on your chosen issue. Identify two ways in
which you could use the findings of your research to change practice.
When implementing evidence into practice, the health professionals must be thoroughly educated.
This can be achieved through holding different educational sessions and forums or even providing a
suitable environment through clinical evidence to generally implement the changes among
healthcare professionals. Two ways that I would utilise include holding different educational
meetings or sessions with relevant health experts and brief them over the same and in service
educational interventions as well. Furthermore, I can as well seek feedback from the experts who
have previously implemented similar approaches.

References
Cavalieri, T. A., Basehore, P., Perweiler, E., & Chopra, A. (1999). Training osteopathic
geriatric academicians: Impact of a model geriatric residency program. The
Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 99(7), 371.
doi:10.7556/jaoa.1999.99.7.371