Education for Nursing and Primary Care Providers on Nonpharmacological Management of Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, with a significant financial burden on those individuals affected, the communities, the healthcare systems, and the government. Chronic pain also interferes with individuals’ daily activities and alters the quality of life. The treatment for chronic pain includes a variety of medications, including prescription opioids and nonprescription such as NSAIDS, acetaminophen, and muscle relaxants. Pharmacological treatments can result in untoward effects. The CDC has recommended nonpharmacological alternative treatment modalities that promote self-management but are not emphasized or utilized in the primary care setting. The staff education program was framed within the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE) instructional design model and was presented to 10 nursing staff and providers. Evidence generated by the project included the change in knowledge from pretest to posttest. Descriptive statistics generated the pretest scores ranging from 6 to 9, with a group mean score of 7.3. Posttest scores ranged from 10 to 12, with a mean score of 11.3. A positive change in knowledge was seen with the group mean from the pretest to the posttest of +4. The participants completed the educational program’s evaluation using the dichotomous scale with met=1 and not met=2. All objectives received a “1” for a mean of 1, indicating that the program met the learning objectives. A recommendation was made to include this education for new hires and ongoing in-service education. Positive social change can be achieved using nonpharmaceutical relief measures in conjunction with prescription medications, thus improving the well-being of patients, families, and the human condition