Educating interventional radiology personnel in nonpharmacologic analgesia: effect on patients' pain perception.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose was to evaluate the effects on patients' pain perception of educating interventional radiology personnel in nonpharmacologic analgesia.


METHODS
Ninety-six patients undergoing lower-extremity arteriography or percutaneous nephrostomy were asked to rate the pain they experienced during the procedure on a scale of 0 to 5 (0 = no pain, 1 = mild pain, 2 = moderate pain, 3 = severe pain, 4 = very severe pain, 5 = worst pain possible). Patients were studied at two baseline sessions (baseline 1, December 1993 to August 1994, n = 15; and baseline 2, September 1995 to January 1996, n = 11) and after the staff underwent one of two training sessions (posttraining 1, January 1995 to July 1995, n = 34; posttraining 2, January 1996 to April 1996, n = 36). Training targeted nurses and technologists and included rapport skills, correct use of language and suggestions, distraction, relaxation training, and self-hypnosis. Data were evaluated with analysis of variance for repeated measures.


RESULTS
The mean pain scores reported after training were lower (1.48) and matched an "acceptable" pain score of 1.52 more closely than those reported under baseline conditions (2.54, P = .001). There was a tendency toward reduced use of intravenously administered agents for conscious sedation after training. There were no statistically significant differences in the pain scores between patients who underwent arteriography and patients who underwent nephrostomy overall (1.76 and 1.78, respectively), at baseline (2.58 and 2.43, respectively), and after staff training (1.49 and 1.42, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Interventional radiology personnel trained in nonpharmacologic analgesia methods can help reduce patients' pain perception during interventional procedures.
Lang
E V
EV
Department of Radiology, University of Iowa, College of Medicine, Iowa City 52242, USA.
Berbaum
K S
KS
D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000792:Angiography / Q000009:adverse effects; D001326:Autogenic Training; D003142:Communication; D016292:Procedural Sedation; D004506:Education, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007802:Language; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D009403:Nephrostomy, Percutaneous / Q000009:adverse effects; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D010465:Perception; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D015642:Radiology, Interventional / Q000193:education*; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D013404:Suggestion; D013679:Technology, Radiologic / Q000193:education
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives