Barriers to Effective Pain Management in Older Adults a Narrative Review

Chloe Faith

doi:10.37421/2573-0347.2023.8.308

Commentary - (2023) Volume 8, Issue 2

Barriers to Effective Pain Management in Older Adults a Narrative Review

Chloe Faith^*

^*Correspondence: Chloe Faith, Department of Nursing Practices, University of Dallas, 1845 E Northgate Dr, Irving, TX 75062, USA, Email:

Author information

Department of Nursing Practices, University of Dallas, 1845 E Northgate Dr, Irving, TX 75062, USA

Received: 01-Feb-2023, Manuscript No. APN-23-97168; Editor assigned: 03-Feb-2023, Pre QC No. P-97168; Reviewed: 16-Feb-2023, QC No. Q-97168; Revised: 21-Feb-2023, Manuscript No. R-97168; Published: 28-Feb-2023 , DOI: 10.37421/2573-0347.2023.8.308
Citation: Faith, Chloe. “Barriers to Effective Pain Management in Older Adults a Narrative Review.” Adv Practice Nurs 8 (2023): 308.
Copyright: © 2023 Faith C. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Introduction

Pain is one of the most common health problems in older adults, and it can affect their quality of life. Unfortunately, pain management in this population can be challenging due to several barriers that healthcare professionals face. This narrative review article will discuss the barriers to effective pain management in older adults. Ageism refers to the negative attitudes and stereotypes that people hold towards older adults. It can lead to the under-treatment of pain in older adults as healthcare professionals may believe that pain is a normal part of aging or that older adults have a higher pain tolerance than younger adults [1,2].

Description

Communication barriers can make it difficult for healthcare professionals to assess pain accurately in older adults. For example, older adults may have hearing or vision impairments that make it difficult for them to communicate their pain effectively. Additionally, healthcare professionals may use medical jargon that older adults may not understand. Polypharmacy refers to the use of multiple medications, which can increase the risk of drug interactions and adverse effects. Older adults are more likely to experience adverse drug reactions due to changes in their metabolism and organ function. Polypharmacy can also make it difficult to manage pain effectively, as some medications may interact with pain medications. Older adults are more likely to have chronic health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. These conditions can complicate pain management, as pain may be a symptom of the underlying condition [3].

Healthcare professionals may need to consider the underlying condition when managing pain in older adults. Cognitive impairment, such as dementia, can make it difficult for older adults to communicate their pain effectively. Healthcare professionals may need to rely on observation and behavioral cues to assess pain in older adults with cognitive impairment. Fear of addiction: Healthcare professionals may be reluctant to prescribe opioids or other pain medications due to concerns about addiction. However, older adults are less likely to develop addiction than younger adults. Healthcare professionals need to balance the risk of addiction with the need for pain relief in older adults. Cost can be a barrier to effective pain management in older adults. Some pain medications may be expensive, and older adults may have limited financial resources. Healthcare professionals may need to consider the cost of medications when managing pain in older adults. Effective pain management is essential for maintaining the quality of life of older adults.

However, healthcare professionals face several barriers to effective pain management, including ageism, communication barriers, polypharmacy, chronic health conditions, cognitive impairment, fear of addiction, and cost. Healthcare professionals need to be aware of these barriers and work to overcome them to provide effective pain management for older adults. Effective pain management in older adults requires a comprehensive approach that takes into account the individual's medical history, current health status, and personal preferences. Healthcare professionals need to be aware of the potential barriers to effective pain management and work collaboratively with older adults to overcome these barriers. One way to overcome the barriers to effective pain management in older adults is through the use of a multidisciplinary team approach [4].

This approach involves healthcare professionals from different specialties, such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists, working together to develop a comprehensive pain management plan for older adults. A multidisciplinary team approach can help to address the complex medical and psychosocial issues that older adults may face. Another way to overcome the barriers to effective pain management in older adults is through the use of non-pharmacological interventions. Non-pharmacological interventions such as physical therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and acupuncture can be effective in managing pain in older adults. These interventions can be used alone or in combination with pharmacological interventions [5].

Conclusion

Effective pain management is essential for maintaining the quality of life of older adults. However, healthcare professionals face several barriers to effective pain management, including ageism, communication barriers, polypharmacy, chronic health conditions, cognitive impairment, fear of addiction, and cost. Healthcare professionals need to be aware of these barriers and work collaboratively with older adults to develop a comprehensive pain management plan that addresses their unique needs and preferences. By doing so, healthcare professionals can help older adults to live a more comfortable and fulfilling life.