Performance Evaluation of a Supervised Machine Learning Pain Classification Model Developed by Neonatal Nurses.

BACKGROUND: Early-life pain is associated with adverse neurodevelopmental consequences; and current pain assessment practices are discontinuous, inconsistent, and highly dependent on nurses' availability. Furthermore, facial expressions in commonly used pain assessment tools are not associated with brain-based evidence of pain. PURPOSE: To develop and validate a machine learning (ML) model to classify pain. METHODS: In this retrospective validation study, using a human-centered design for Embedded Machine Learning Solutions approach and the Neonatal Facial Coding System (NFCS), 6 experienced neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses labeled data from randomly assigned iCOPEvid (infant Classification Of Pain Expression video) sequences of 49 neonates undergoing heel lance. NFCS is the only observational pain assessment tool associated with brain-based evidence of pain. A standard 70% training and 30% testing split of the data was used to train and test several ML models. NICU nurses' interrater reliability was evaluated, and NICU nurses' area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was compared with the ML models' AUC. RESULTS: Nurses weighted mean interrater reliability was 68% (63%-79%) for NFCS tasks, 77.7% (74%-83%) for pain intensity, and 48.6% (15%-59%) for frame and 78.4% (64%-100%) for video pain classification, with AUC of 0.68. The best performing ML model had 97.7% precision, 98% accuracy, 98.5% recall, and AUC of 0.98. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH: The pain classification ML model AUC far exceeded that of NICU nurses for identifying neonatal pain. These findings will inform the development of a continuous, unbiased, brain-based, nurse-in-the-loop Pain Recognition Automated Monitoring System (PRAMS) for neonates and infants.

The usability of an AAC pain description system for patients with acquired expressive communication disorders.

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) has been used by patients with acquired expressive communication disorders as an alternative to natural speech. The use of symbols to express pain, which is intangible, is challenging because designing a series of comprehensible symbols to represent personal experiences such as pain is not straightforward. This study describes (a) the development of symbols to express pain that were derived from Chinese pain-related similes and metaphors for an AAC mobile application developed specifically for this study known as PainDiary and (b) an assessment of the appropriateness of the app compared to conventional methods of collecting pain information. The symbols depicted headache pain and discomfort, which is prevalent among neurosurgical patients. The participants were 31 patients diagnosed with acquired expressive communication disorders who were receiving treatment in a neurosurgery general ward of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan and 14 nurses who worked on the ward. Pain information was collected by nurses using conventional methods and the PainDiary app. Assessment data, including the accuracy and efficiency of and user satisfaction with PainDiary, are compared. The results show that use of the app was effective in reporting pain and that patients required less time to report a pain event. The results further indicate that the PainDiary app was better received by younger individuals than by their older counterparts.

Intervenções não farmacológicas implementadas por enfermeiros no controlo da dor em cuidados paliativos: protocolo scoping review / Non-pharmacological pain-relief interventions implemented by nurses in palliative care: scoping review protocol

Objetivo: Identificar e mapear a evidência científica existente no âmbito das intervenções não farmacológicas implementadas por enfermeiros, com o objetivo de proporcionar controlo da dor, da pessoa em situação paliativa. Metodologia: Protocolo de Scoping review com base na metodologia proposta pelo Joanna Briggs Institute. Na pesquisa e identificação dos estudos, serão usadas as bases de dados eletrónicas MEDLINE (via Pubmed), CINAHL Complete (via EBSCOhost), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Scielo, JBI Library of Systematic Reviews, Scopus. Adicionalmente, a pesquisa de estudos não publicados incluirá o Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP) e o OpenGrey. A estratégia de pesquisa abrangerá todos os artigos publicados em português, espanhol e inglês, nos últimos 5 anos. Resultados: Os resultados serão apresentados em formato narrativo, recorrendo a tabelas, de acordo com o objetivo, foco e questão de revisão. O mapeamento das intervenções não farmacológicas implementadas por enfermeiros, no âmbito do controlo da dor, irá contribuir para a disseminação da evidência disponível. Conclusão: Espera-se que a presente scoping review contribua para a análise crítica das intervenções não farmacológicas implementadas pelos enfermeiros neste âmbito, dado o potencial impacte destas no controlo da dor e na qualidade dos cuidados prestados.

Objetivo: Identificar y mapear la evidencia científica existente en el ámbito de las intervenciones no farmacológicas implementadas por enfermeras, con el objetivo de proporcionar el control del dolor a la persona en situación paliativa. Método: Protocolo de scoping review, según la metodología de Instituto Joanna Briggs. En la estrategia de investigación e identificación de estudios, se utilizarán las bases de datos electrónicas CINAHL Complete (vía EBSCOhost), MEDLINE (vía Pubmed), Registro Cochrane Central de Ensayos Controlados, Base de Datos Cochrane de Revisiones Sistemáticas, Scielo, JBI Library of Systematic Reviews. Scopus. A su vez, la búsqueda de estudios inéditos incluirá el Repositorio Científico de Acceso Abierto de Portugal (RCAAP) y OpenGrey. La estrategia de búsqueda incluirá todos los artículos publicados en portugués, español e inglés en los últimos 5 años. Resultados: Los resultados se presentarán en formato narrativo, mediante tablas, de acuerdo con el objetivo, enfoque y pregunta de revisión. El mapeo de las intervenciones no farmacológicas, en el ámbito del control del dolor, contribuirá para la difusión de la evidencia disponible. Conclusión: Se espera que la presente revisión contribuya para el análisis crítico de las intervenciones no farmacológicas en esta área, dado el potencial impacto de estas en el control del dolor y en la cualidad de los cuidados prestados.

Aim: To identify and map the existing scientific evidence within the scope of non-pharmacological interventions implemented by nurses with the objective of providing pain relief to the people in a palliative situation. Method: This study followed the scoping review protocol based on the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. In regard to the research strategy and identification of studies, the following electronic databases were consulted: MEDLINE (via Pubmed), CINAHL Complete (via EBSCOhost), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Scielo, JBI Library of Systematic Reviews, and Scopus. In addition, the search for unpublished studies included the Scientific Repository for Open Access of Portugal (RCAAP) and OpenGrey. The research strategy included all the articles published in Portuguese, Spanish and English in the last 5 years. Results: Following the main objective, focus and research question, the results will be presented in a narrative format, using tables. The mapping of the non-pharmacological interventions implemented by nurses focused on pain relief will contribute to the dissemination of the available evidence. Conclusion: It is expected that the present scoping review will contribute to the critical analysis of non-pharmacological interventions implemented by nurses in this area given the potential impact of these on pain relief and the quality of care provided.

Determination of prevalence, characteristics, management and related factors for pain in the older adults: pain among nursing home residents

This study aimed to determine pain assessment approaches and pain management strategies in elderly people in a nursing home.The cross-sectional-descriptive study sample consisted of 147 older adults living in a nursing home in Turkey in 2019. They all agreed to participate in the study (n = 147); however, as our research was about older adultswith pain problems, the study was completed with a total of 108 older adultsexperiencing pain problems. The participants' average age was 73.60 ± 6.97 years. Geriatric pain scale scores were higher for women aged 75 years and over, those who had a chronic disease and those who received analgesics, and there was a statistically significant difference between the mean scores (p < 0.05). Nurses must pay attention to pain assessment and management in nursing homes because of the adverse effects of pain on older adults' health status, vital functions, and well-being.

Music to reduce stress in hospitalized patients.

PURPOSE: To determine the impact of music on the physiologic and psychological stress experienced by hospital inpatients. METHODS: This pilot study monitored vital signs; utilized pain, anxiety, and agitation rating scales; and gathered verbal feedback from 50 participating inpatients at the authors' healthcare facility as they listened to music via an audiovisual interactive patient engagement technology system. RESULTS: After listening to music for 30 minutes, patients reported significantly lower pain and anxiety. CONCLUSION: Music offered a helpful tool to reduce pain and anxiety for patients in the ICU and telemetry units at the authors' healthcare facility. Future research may be geared toward incremental expansion and monitoring of this music intervention in other units.

Understanding the issues experienced by older people undergoing emergency surgery.

The number of older people undergoing surgery in the UK is increasing, partly due to an ageing population and advances in surgical techniques. However, outcomes for older patients who have undergone surgery are suboptimal when compared with younger people, especially following emergency surgery. To minimise the risk of adverse events affecting older people following surgery, it is essential that nurses understand how to manage common challenges for this patient group such as delirium, pain, reduced mobility and inadequate hydration.

Bearing witness to the challenges of breathlessness.

The community respiratory nurse specialist (CRNS) supports patients at different stages of lung disease, witnessing the challenge of living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a progressive illness for which there is no cure. Breathlessness is the most prominent and debilitating symptom experienced; it is frightening, distressing and very difficult to manage. Little is known about the experience of CRNSs in witnessing the distress of patients, specifically those experiencing breathlessness. The nurse may have cared for such patients over many months or years. In witnessing this distress, CRNSs engage in emotional labour, which is associated with burnout and poor-quality care. This paper seeks to identify bearing witness to suffering and vulnerability as components of emotional labour in the context of the CRNS role. It highlights the need for research to explore the experience of CRNSs and insights into supporting people with long-term breathlessness. It is more likely that well-supported staff can provide sustained, supportive care to patients living with breathlessness.

A soft silicone foam dressing that aids healing and comfort in oncology care.

Maintaining skin integrity plays a key role in the ongoing care and comfort of patients at the end of life. Unfortunately, patients receiving cancer treatments are at higher risk of altered skin integrity. Cancer treatments involve multiple modalities, all of which impair wound healing. Excess exudate can be distressing to patients, resulting in catastrophic damage to the wound bed and surrounding skin, reducing quality of life and increasing the need for specialist services. This article describes the use of the Kliniderm foam silicone range of dressings, in combination with best practice, in the treatment of wounds in the oncology setting. The case study evidence presented indicates that this range of dressings is useful in the management of radiotherapy and oncology wounds. It had a positive effect on the exudate level, wound-association pain and the peri-wound skin in these patients, aiding the management of the wound bed.

An audience survey of practice relating to pain in the management of chronic venous leg ulcers.

Venous leg ulcers (VLU) respond well to compression, yet many ulcers remain unhealed after 1 year. Practitioners could be reluctant to apply compression to patients with significant ulcer pain. This study aimed to capture the views of practitioners on compression therapy for patients with painful VLU. A survey was conducted at a UK meeting in 2019 using handheld voting pads to capture the anonymous responses to four questions to which a mean of 90 practitioners responded. Nearly 40% of practitioners treat six or more patients a day with painful lower-limb ulcers. Some 80% felt confident in managing patients with painful ulcers; yet, most practitioners suggested they would refer onward for pain management. Some 40% would omit or reduce compression therapy as a pain management strategy. This survey supports the need for technological solutions that reduce VLU pain so that patients receive effective compression therapy.

Supportive care needs and quality of care of patients with lung cancer in Mexico: A cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: To assess the supportive care needs (SC-needs), quality of patient-centered care (PCC), and factors associated with increased SC-needs of patients with lung cancer (LC) in Mexico. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in the main oncology hospital of the Mexican Institute of Social Security in Mexico City. The study included LC ambulatory patients aged ≥18 years with at least one hospitalization before the survey, ≤five years since diagnosis, and without memory loss. Participants answered SC-needs and quality of PCC questionnaires. We performed a multiple negative binomial regression analysis to evaluate the factors associated with an increased number of SC-needs. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-eight LC patients participated. Most participants had adenocarcinoma (61.7%) and were at an advanced disease stage (92.1%). In the month preceding the survey, 3.9% had undergone surgery and 78.9% had been receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy; 28.9% had symptoms of depression and 21.9% had anxiety. All patients reported one or more SC-needs-predominantly physical, daily living, information, and psychological needs. The significant gaps in PCC-quality were in the domains of care that addressed biopsychosocial needs and information for treatment decision-making. Factors that decreased the probability of SC-needs were respectful and coordinated care, high-school education, and older age. The factors increasing the likelihood of SCneeds were the type of LC (adenocarcinoma, mesenchymal tumors), chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, and anxiety. CONCLUSION: PCC improvement initiatives to address SC-needs of LC patients should be prioritized and focus on: (1) information on physical suffering relief and treatment; (2) psychological support; and (3) SC-needs monitoring.

[Knowledge and attitudes of intensive care unit nurses regarding pain in patients].

BACKGROUND: Intensive Care Units (ICU) usually treat patients with pain. Being close to patients makes nurses key professionals for guaranteeing an optimal assessment and treatment of pain, which are crucial to ensure quality care. Therefore this study aims to describe the knowledge and attitudes of ICU nurses about pain management in their clinical practice, and its relationship with socio-demographic data. METHODS: Cross-sectional study carried out in a third level university teaching hospital ICU. The Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain (KARSP) translated into Spanish was used to obtain information about the knowledge and attitudes towards pain of nurses. RESULTS: All nurses (n?=?37) working at the ICU answered the questionnaire. The mean score of the questionnaire was 5.87 over 10 (SD: 0.98, range: 7.89-3.68). There was not a statistically significant relationship among the questionnaire score and age, professional experience, time worked at the ICU, specialized training or pain training. However, nurses with a master's degree obtained significantly higher mean scores in the questionnaire (6.97; DE: 0.75 vs. 5.73; DE: 0.92; p?=?0.018). CONCLUSIONS: ICU nurses show insufficient knowledge and attitudes towards pain. Having a master's degree improves the results obtained in the questionnaire about knowledge and attitudes towards pain.

Implementation of a hospice pain-education programme.

BACKGROUND: No studies have explored the pain resource nurse curriculum in the hospice setting. This curriculum offers a structured method to teach pain management to nurses. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of implementing a modified pain resource nurse curriculum on nursing knowledge in a community hospice agency. METHODS: A modified and condensed version of the pain resources nurse curriculum was presented to community hospice nurses during two educational sessions. A pre-test-post-test assessment was conducted using a modified version of the Nursing Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain tool to assess knowledge growth from the educational sessions. FINDINGS: For educational session 1, average correct responses rose slightly from the pre-test to the post-test. However, this increase was not found to be statistically significant. For educational session 2, average correct responses rose an average of 2.6 points. This increase was found to be statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Based on this pre-experimental study, there is evidence that the pain resources nurse curriculum can provide an instructional framework for teaching hospice nurses. However, further study is needed, including a more rigorous design.

Defining compassion in a hospital setting: consensus on the characteristics that comprise compassion from researchers in the field.

Aims: To seek consensus on the key characteristics that comprise compassion in a health care setting from pre-defined experts currently researching in the field. Background: Compassion is a vital component in healthcare. There is currently little consensus on how compassion is defined or operationalized in healthcare or research. Design: Modified Delphi Study. Methods: A four phase Delphi process was conducted: (1) Literature review of contemporary research (2) open ended questionnaire (n = 9); (3) content analysis results and synthesis with literature; (4) two round Delphi approach (Round 1 n = 8; Round 2 n = 6). Results: A total of 31 out of 36 statements reached consensus. Conclusions: Experts came to a consensus that compassion was a virtuous response involving awareness of and participation in the suffering of another conveyed through action intended to reduce the suffering observed. Experts placed less emphasis on compassion as sympathetic concern or pity. Compassion does not involve witnessing of the plight of another nor suffering with the patient.

Experiences of Nephrology Nurses in Assessing and Managing Pain in Patients Receiving Maintenance Hemodialysis.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major health problem. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe nephrology nurses' experiences in assessing and managing pain in patients who were receiving maintenance hemodialysis at outpatient units within a tertiary care institution. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven nurses, and a thematic analysis was used to analyze data. Themes emerged related to the complexity of pain assessment and management in these patients, who were often elderly. Nurses had to ascertain whether the pain was related to hemodialysis treatment, renal failure, or comorbidities. Nurses described managing pain within the context of the hemodialysis unit, and this required working as a team. Nurses also described the need for a palliative approach in patient care.

Nurses' Knowledge of Opioids: Foundations for Clinical Practice.

BACKGROUND: The opioid crisis has influenced practice changes to mitigate risks to patients receiving opioids. It is essential that nurses understand contemporary guidelines to provide safe patient care for patients receiving opioids. PURPOSE: This study was designed to assess general knowledge of opioids among nurses in nonprescribing patient care roles. METHODS: A survey was developed, validated, and deployed to 564 nurses in a large hospital system. RESULTS: Nurses had strong knowledge of basic pharmacology, the conjunctive use of nonopioids for pain relief, and differences in analgesia for chronic versus acute pain. Opportunity for education included risk factors for opioid-related adverse events, medication combinations, differences in opioid tolerant and opioid-naïve patients, and recognition and management of overdose. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study can be used to guide continuing education and academic curricula to ensure nurses are equipped with the key knowledge to provide safe quality clinical care and patient education.

Effect of education and counselling on reducing pain and anxiety in women undergoing hysterosalpingography: A randomised controlled trial.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of education and counselling on anxiety and pain in women undergoing hysterosalpingography (HSG) as part of infertility treatment. BACKGROUND: The hysterosalpingography has an important diagnostic role in finding the cause of infertility and making a decision on management of treatment. In addition, it is considered a feared procedure in the infertility process and the one about which very little is known. Women often experience anxiety and pain during the HSG procedure. DESIGN: A randomised controlled trial. METHODS: The CONSORT guidelines have been used to describe the methods. Women who were diagnosed with infertility between February-October 2016 were included in the study. The participants were randomised and divided into intervention (52) and control (53) groups. The sociodemographic and obstetric data collection form, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and a visual analogue scale were used before the procedure. After the questionnaires were applied to the intervention group, individual learning and counselling sessions were given about the hysterosalpingography process. Brochures were also distributed to the patients for their reference after the learning session. The control group received standard care. RESULTS: When the intervention and control groups were compared, it was found that the education and counselling given before the HSG procedure significantly decreased the level of pain and anxiety felt by women. In addition, a significant positive correlation was found between pain and anxiety after the training in the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the education and counselling given to women before the HSG procedure are effective interventions for reducing pain and anxiety in women undergoing HSG. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: With the application of HSG education and counselling, and the distribution of brochures to each patient, pain and anxiety can be reduced during the HSG procedure.

[Reduction of pain during intravenous cannulation in children: Buzzy application]. / Çocuklarda damar yolu açma islemi sirasinda olusan agriyi azaltma: Buzzy uygulamasi.

OBJECTIVES: This study was a randomized, controlled examination of the effect of the Buzzy device (MMJ Labs, LLC, Atlanta, GA, USA) in reducing pain during peripheral intravenous cannulation in children. The device uses a combination of highfrequency vibration and cold to block pain. METHODS: The study was conducted with 56 children aged 7-12 years who presented at the pediatric emergency department of Trakya University Health Center for Medical Research and Practice. Data were gathered using a family and child data collection form and the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (Wong-Baker FACES Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA). A vein visualization tool was used in both groups for peripheral intravenous cannulation, and the Buzzy device was also used in the experimental group. The pain of the children was assessed by a nurse and the children. Descriptive statistics, the Wilcoxon t-test, the Mann-Whitney U test, and correlation analysis were used to evaluate the data. The results were evaluated at a 95% confidence interval and p<0.05 was accepted as the level of significance. RESULTS: The mean age of the children was 8.37±1.96 years and 58.9% were male. The mean pain score provided by the children in the experimental group was 3.40±3.56 and it was 3.76±3.06 in the control group. The mean pain score reported by the nurse for the experimental group was 4.53±3.44 and 3.76±2.73 for the control group. There was no significant difference between the pain scores reported by the children and the nurse according to group (p<0.05). However, there was a significant difference between the pain scores recorded by the nurse and the children (p=0.034). CONCLUSION: The Buzzy device was not effective in reducing pain during intravenous cannulation. The level of pain reported by the nurse was higher than that described by the children. It is recommended that training on pain assessment and the use of distraction methods should be provided to nurses working in pediatric emergency departments.