Perspective on pain management in the 21st century.
Pain is a predictable consequence of surgery or trauma. Untreated, it is associated with significant physiological, emotional, mental, and economic consequences. Despite the vast amount of current knowledge, uncontrolled postoperative pain is reported by approximately 50% of patients. Thus, techniques for effective acute pain management (APM) represent unmet educational needs. The significance of these unmet needs is reflected in the number of journal and textbook publications dedicated to disseminating research, evidence-based guidelines, and clinical information. Acknowledging the importance of APM, health care accrediting agencies and professional societies have become increasingly focused on ensuring that patients receive prompt and acceptable pain relief.
Polomano
Rosemary C
RC
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6096, USA. polomanr@nursing.upenn.edu
Dunwoody
Colleen J
CJ
Krenzischek
Dina A
DA
Rathmell
James P
JP
D000208:Acute Disease; D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005544:Forecasting; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D016528:Postanesthesia Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology