title: A closer look: Alternative pain management practices by heart failure patients with chronic pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe alternative non-pharmaceutical non-nutraceutical pain self-management strategies used by people with heart failure (HF) in order to reduce chronic non-cardiac pain.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Little is known about alternative pain self-treatments used by HF patients with chronic pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional descriptive design was used with 25 hospitalized HF patients who had chronic pain and used at least one alternative pain treatment. Pain intensity, pain interference with function, and current pain treatments were measured with the Brief Pain Inventory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alternative treatments included walking, stretching, use of heat and cold. Five patients used evidence-based pain treatments for their chronic pain conditions. Patients reported moderate pain intensity and pain interference with activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with HF and chronic pain use few alternative pain treatments. Screening for chronic pain and referral to Integrative Medicine and/or Palliative care for a pain management consult might reduce the added burden of pain in people with HF.
authors.affiliation: University of Connecticut School of Nursing, 231 Glenbrook Road, Storrs, CT 06269-2026, USA. Electronic address: Deborah.mcdonald@uconn.edu.
authors.forename: Deborah Dillon
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.affiliation: Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, 114 Woodland Street, Hartford, CT 06105, USA.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Soutar
authors.affiliation: Masonicare Partners Home Health and Hospice, 111 Founders Plaza, East Hartford, CT 06108, USA.
authors.forename: Maria Agudelo
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, 114 Woodland Street, Hartford, CT 06105, USA.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Afriyie
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017679:Cryotherapy; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D016138:Walking
keywords: Alternative therapy; Chronic pain; Heart failure; Pain management; Self-management