Pain management for people with dementia: a cross-setting systematic review and meta-ethnography.

Background: Pain management for people with dementia is challenging. There is limited understanding on the experiences of pain management from people with dementia, but also from those who support them. This study synthesised the qualitative evidence to explore the perspectives of people with dementia, their family, friends, carers and healthcare professionals to pain management. Methods: A systematic literature review was undertaken of published and unpublished literature databases (to 01 November 2021). All qualitative research studies reporting the perspectives of people with dementia, their family, friends, carers and healthcare professionals to managing pain were included. Eligible studies were appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) qualitative appraisal tool. A meta-ethnography analysis approach was adopted, with findings assessed against the GRADE-CERQual framework. Results: Of the 3994 citations screened, 33 studies were eligible. Seven themes were identified from the data. There was moderate evidence from six studies indicating inequity of pain management for people with dementia. There was moderate evidence from 22 studies regarding anxieties on cascading pain information. There was moderate evidence from nine studies that familiarisation of the person with pain, their preferences, routines and behaviours were key factors to better pain management. Consistently, carers and healthcare professionals had a low opinion of the management of pain for people with dementia, with tensions over the 'best' treatment options to offer. This was associated with poor training and understanding on how pain 'should' be managed. Conclusion: The findings highlight the challenges faced by people with dementia and pain, and those who support them. Improvements in education for people who support these individuals would be valuable across health and social care pathways. Supporting family members and relatives on pain experiences and treatment options could improve awareness to improve quality of life for people with dementia and pain and those who support them.

Surgeon and physiotherapist approaches to operative or non-operative management of people with recurrent patellar dislocation: A case-based UK survey.

BACKGROUND: Physiotherapists are often key decision-makers on when to refer patients with recurrent patellar dislocation for surgical opinion. Limited guidance exists to aid this decision. Differences in orthopaedic surgeons' and physiotherapists' views on which patients and when to refer people for surgical consideration or non-operative care may affect outcome. This study aimed to explore orthopaedic surgeons and physiotherapists decision-making surrounding treatment opinions for patients with recurrent patellar dislocation. METHODS: An online survey performed. UK registered and practicing orthopaedic surgeons and physiotherapists were invited to participate. The survey utilised two vignettes and a series of related questions to ascertain respondents' views on decision-making to surgical referral for people with recurrent patellar dislocation. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistical tests to explore factors related to responses. RESULTS: Eighty four respondent surveys were analysed (38 surgeons, 46 physiotherapists). Overall, there was a low level of agreement amongst respondents for the management of the vignettes (k = 0.215, p = < 0.0005). Some disparity existed between the professions on the definition of recurrent patellar dislocations and the clinical features which may require an early surgical assessment. Physiotherapists were three times more likely to delay a surgical opinion for the vignettes presented in this study than the surgeons. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to investigate orthopaedic surgeons' and physiotherapists' views on decision-making around surgical or non-operative management for recurrent patellar dislocations. High-quality research is required to underpin explicit guidance on decision-making regarding management of recurrent patellar dislocation.

Effectiveness of caregiver interventions for people with cancer and non-cancer-related chronic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: People with chronic pain frequently have difficulties in completing everyday tasks to maintain independence and quality of life. Informal caregivers may provide support to these individuals. However, the effectiveness of interventions to train and support these individuals in caregiving remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the evidence to determine the effectiveness of caregiver interventions to support informal caregivers of people with chronic pain. METHODS: A systematic review of published and unpublished literature databases was undertaken (9 April 2021). Trials reporting clinical outcomes of caregiver interventions to train informal caregivers to support community-dwelling people with chronic pain were included. Meta-analysis was undertaken and each outcome was assessed using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation. RESULTS: Twenty-seven studies were eligible (N = 3427 patients). Twenty-four studies assessed patients with cancer pain and three with musculoskeletal pain. No other patient groups were identified. There was very low-quality evidence that caregiver interventions were beneficial for caregiver health-related quality of life (standardised mean difference = 0.26, 95% confidence interval = 0.01 to 0.52; N = 231). There was moderate-quality evidence that caregiving interventions were effective in reducing pain in the short-term (standardised mean difference = 0.16, 95% confidence interval = -0.29 to -0.03). There was low-quality evidence that caregiving interventions had no beneficial effect over usual care for psychological outcomes, fatigue, coping or physical function in the long-term. CONCLUSION: Caregiving interventions may be effective for patients and caregivers but only in the shorter-term and for a limited number of outcomes. There is insufficient evidence examining the effectiveness of caregiver interventions for people with non-cancer-related pain.

Preventing unintentional injuries in children and young people under 15.

Unintentional injury is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children aged one to 14 years and puts more children in hospital than any other cause. The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published public health guidance on strategies to prevent unintentional injuries among children and young people aged under 15, along with related guidance on provision of home safety equipment and home risk assessments, and road design and modification. This paper, by a member of the NICE programme development group, aims to provide an overview of the guidance, which focuses on strategies, regulation, enforcement, surveillance and workforce development to prevent unintentional injuries in the home, on the road and during outdoor play and leisure.

Risky business.

Unintentional injury is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children aged one to 14 and puts more children in hospital than any other cause. The Department of Health (DH) asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to produce public health guidance on the prevention of unintentional injuries among children and young people aged under 15. This paper, by a member of the NICE programme development group, aims to provide an overview of the recently published guidance. The guidance focuses on strategies, regulation, enforcement, surveillance and workforce development in relation to preventing unintentional injuries in the home, on the road and during outdoor play and leisure. A summary of the main recommendations will be given and those recommendations or considerations directly applicable to community practitioners will be outlined.

Extending the reach of nutrition education for older adults: feasibility of a Train-the-Trainer approach in congregate nutrition sites.

Low-income older adults are difficult to reach with nutrition education. This study examines the feasibility of a Train-the-Trainer approach using congregate nutrition site (CNS) managers to deliver nutrition education. The study suggests that CNS managers were receptive to the role of trainer, CNS participants were satisfied with this method, and the acceptability of managers as trainers did not vary with participants' levels of risk of malnutrition. Although the sample size (53 participants and 4 managers) and convenience sampling method limit generalizability, the promising results suggest the potential benefits of this method and the need for further study.