Assessing Pain in Nonverbal Patients
All individuals communicate verbally and nonverbally, and the ability to comprehend both communication methods is essential. Research indicates that two-thirds of communication is nonverbal and that nonverbal communication is more reliable than verbal (Washington & Leaver, 2010). Effective pain management is crucial for all patients. Many patients fear the perceived pain of disease more than the actual disease. Pain is an individualized, real experience with each patient’s response unique. Failure to properly assess a patient’s pain can lead to the undertreatment of that pain (Curtiss, 2010). Pain assessment in a patient who cannot or will not express the pain can be challenging. This essay explores …show more content…
Literature Review
An important barrier to pain assessment is the patient’s inability to articulate pain. Nonverbal patient behaviors allow the clinician to infer the presence of pain. Research by Curtiss (2010) outlines common evaluative discomfort behaviors in nonverbal adults. These behaviors include body movements, facial expressions, vocalizations, interpersonal interactions, changes in routines, and changes in mental status. Curtiss (2010) further elaborates on the components of each. Body movements include guarding, pacing or rocking, rigidity, fidgeting, and massaging. Facial expressions comprise frowning, clenching teeth, wrinkling forehead, and rapid blinking. Vocalizations constitute sighing, crying, whining, moaning, grunting, and becoming verbally abusive. Interpersonal interactions consist of aggressiveness, combativeness, disruptive, and withdrawn. Changes in routines include appetite, sleep patterns, and increased wandering. Finally, mental changes are increased confusion, restlessness, and irritability (Curtiss, 2010). Limitations to the interpretation of discomfort behaviors include the following: Influences by patient’s culture, personality, and motivation; …show more content…
In a study researched by Fischer, Villines, Kim, Epstein, and Wilkie (2010), patients enduring cancer pain suffered from adverse psychological effects. Fischer et al. (2010) explained that catastrophizing pain intensity and duration leads to high levels of anxiety, hopelessness, and depression. The American Cancer Society (2013) recognizes that pain and depression are cyclic. Chronic pain leads to anxiety and depression while anxiety and depression exacerbate pain. Pain is common in cancer patients, but treatable. Keeping a pain journal is an effective way of sharing pain levels with medical personnel. Pain that is controlled allows patients to function near normally, decreasing negative
All individuals communicate verbally and nonverbally, and the ability to comprehend both communication methods is essential. Research indicates that two-thirds of communication is nonverbal and that nonverbal communication is more reliable than verbal (Washington & Leaver, 2010). Effective pain management is crucial for all patients. Many patients fear the perceived pain of disease more than the actual disease. Pain is an individualized, real experience with each patient’s response unique. Failure to properly assess a patient’s pain can lead to the undertreatment of that pain (Curtiss, 2010). Pain assessment in a patient who cannot or will not express the pain can be challenging. This essay explores …show more content…
Literature Review
An important barrier to pain assessment is the patient’s inability to articulate pain. Nonverbal patient behaviors allow the clinician to infer the presence of pain. Research by Curtiss (2010) outlines common evaluative discomfort behaviors in nonverbal adults. These behaviors include body movements, facial expressions, vocalizations, interpersonal interactions, changes in routines, and changes in mental status. Curtiss (2010) further elaborates on the components of each. Body movements include guarding, pacing or rocking, rigidity, fidgeting, and massaging. Facial expressions comprise frowning, clenching teeth, wrinkling forehead, and rapid blinking. Vocalizations constitute sighing, crying, whining, moaning, grunting, and becoming verbally abusive. Interpersonal interactions consist of aggressiveness, combativeness, disruptive, and withdrawn. Changes in routines include appetite, sleep patterns, and increased wandering. Finally, mental changes are increased confusion, restlessness, and irritability (Curtiss, 2010). Limitations to the interpretation of discomfort behaviors include the following: Influences by patient’s culture, personality, and motivation; …show more content…
In a study researched by Fischer, Villines, Kim, Epstein, and Wilkie (2010), patients enduring cancer pain suffered from adverse psychological effects. Fischer et al. (2010) explained that catastrophizing pain intensity and duration leads to high levels of anxiety, hopelessness, and depression. The American Cancer Society (2013) recognizes that pain and depression are cyclic. Chronic pain leads to anxiety and depression while anxiety and depression exacerbate pain. Pain is common in cancer patients, but treatable. Keeping a pain journal is an effective way of sharing pain levels with medical personnel. Pain that is controlled allows patients to function near normally, decreasing negative