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Summary

Nurses in all settings are likely to be working with patients in chronic pain on a regular basis. Although there is much information available about chronic pain, there is evidence that nurses find patients with chronic pain difficult to work with. This article assists nurses to maintain and develop their practice by addressing these issues.

Keywords

Pain and pain management; Pain: measurement

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Aim and intended learning outcomes

Chronic pain is experienced by an increasing number of people. This means that nurses in all settings are likely to be working with patients in chronic pain on a regular basis. There is much information available about chronic pain. However, there is evidence that nurses find patients with chronic pain difficult to work with. This article aims to assist nurses to maintain and develop their practice by addressing these issues.

After reading this article you should be able to:

* Explain the prevalence of chronic pain.

* Describe how chronic pain differs from other types of pain.

* Develop an appreciation of patient experience.

* Identify misconceptions held by health professionals about patients experiencing chronic pain.

* Reflect on your practice and ask 'How can I work differently in the future?'

* Consider skills and knowledge which may be developed further.

Introduction

Pain is a universal part of human experience and is defined as an emotional and sensory experience resulting from actual or potential damage (Merskey and Bogduk 1994). Chronic pain is pain that has been present for a significant length of time, is disabling and may interfere with physical functioning (Price 1996, Simon 1996). Chronic pain is common, increasing in prevalence and is a leading cause of disability. The experience of this type of pain is complex for health professionals and patients, and as a result it is not always well understood or managed. One explanation for this is that the models of diagnosis and treatment that are used for other categories of pain are not appropriate for describing or responding to patients experiencing chronic pain.

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