Pain Management Nursing RSS feed: Current Issue. This peer-reviewed journal offers a unique focus on the realm of pain management as it applies to nursing. Original and review articles from experts in the field offer key insights in the areas of clinical practice, advocacy, education, administration, and research. Additional features include practice guidelines and pharmacology updates. http://www.painmanagementnursing.org/?rss=yesElsevier Inc.en © 2011 American Society for Pain Management Nursing. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Pain Management Nursing1524-9042124December 2011 © 2011 American Society for Pain Management Nursing. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. healthpermissions@elsevier.comhttp://www.painmanagementnursing.org/article/PIIS1524904211001871/abstract?rss=yesAs was advertised, the 2011 ASPMN conference was held in Tucson, Arizona, at the J. W. Marriott Star Pass Resort and Spa. Slightly more than 400 nurses attended the conference. Thanks to the wonderful corporate sponsors (Abbott Labs, Ameritox, Archimedes Pharma, Baxter, Cephalon, Medtronic, Neurogesx, Pfizer, Pricara, Purdue Pharma, and St. Jude Medical), we were sufficiently fed with Southwestern cuisine at its finest. The view from the top of the hill was spectacular. Thanks to President Jo Eland, the official photographer of this fabulous organization, we were greeted at each session with pictures of the cacti, javelinas crossing the road, and pictures of every type of event that was happening. I hope that you did not miss the sighting of the tarantula that was hanging out over a door to the parking lot!2011 ASPMN Conference Was a Huge Success!Joyce S. Willens10.1016/j.pmn.2011.10.001Pain Management Nursing 12, 4 (2011)2011-12-01Pain Management Nursing2011-12-01124S1524-9042(11)X0006-1Editorial189189http://www.painmanagementnursing.org/article/PIIS1524904210000767/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: Too often, the elderly suffer silently and needlessly with chronic pain. To investigate the pain experience of the elderly living in the community, a descriptive research design was used. The aims of the study were to determine the prevalence of pain in an older population living in the community, to obtain a description of the older adult's pain experience, and to determine strategies used to manage their pain. The results of the study indicated that >90% of the elderly living in the community experienced pain within the past month, with 41% reporting discomforting, distressing, horrible, or excruciating pain. Musculoskeletal pain was found to be the most predominant pain, and inactivity was the most effective strategy used to lessen pain. Pain in the elderly continues to be a challenge which needs to be addressed more effectively by health care providers. Based on the high prevalence of pain experienced by the elderly and the expected demographic shifts in the next two decades, it is imperative to continue research in this area to assure the highest quality of life, as well as maximum functional ability, for the elderly. Health care providers need to understand the multidimensional pain experience that occurs in the daily life of the community-dwelling older adult and the most effective management strategies that can be used to provide pain relief.Pain Experience of the ElderlySylvia T. Brown, Mary K. Kirkpatrick, Melvin S. Swanson, Ila Leigh McKenzie10.1016/j.pmn.2010.05.004Pain Management Nursing 12, 4 (2011)2010-07-26Pain Management Nursing2010-07-26124S1524-9042(11)X0006-1Original Articles190196http://www.painmanagementnursing.org/article/PIIS1524904210001748/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: The purpose of this study was to report the prevalence and impact of pain among Taiwanese oncology outpatients who had experienced moderate pain. Ninety-two cancer outpatients in two teaching hospitals in the Taipei area of Taiwan were enrolled in a descriptive cross-sectional study. Outpatients aged ≥18 years who had been prescribed opioid analgesics for cancer-related pain completed the Brief Pain Inventory–Chinese questionnaire. Results of this study highlighted an important issue: undertreatment of cancer pain in the Taiwanese outpatients. Patients in this study reported that in the preceding 24 hours they had experienced a mean worst pain of 6.91 (SD 2.06, range 0-10). The average pain intensity in the preceding 24 hours was 5.21 (SD 1.69, range 0-10). Around 50% of the patients had pain most of the time and 25% of the patients had pain all of the time. In the preceding 24 hours the average pain relief experienced was 62.6% (SD 22.2%, range 0%-100%). Only 10.9% of patients experienced good pain relief (defined as 90%-100% of pain relief in the past 24 hours), whereas 45.7% experienced poor pain relief (defined as 0%-60% of pain relief in the past 24 hours). The mean pain interference with the patients’ daily activities was 5.69 (SD 2.33, range 0-10). The findings of this study indicate the need for better programmatic efforts to improve relief of cancer pain in Taiwanese outpatients.The Prevalence and Impact of Pain Among Taiwanese Oncology OutpatientsShu-Yuan Liang, Chin-Ching Li, Shu-Fang Wu, Tsae-Jyy Wang, Shiow-Luan Tsay10.1016/j.pmn.2010.10.034Pain Management Nursing 12, 4 (2011)2011-01-31Pain Management Nursing2011-01-31124S1524-9042(11)X0006-1Original Articles197205http://www.painmanagementnursing.org/article/PIIS1524904211000038/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: Psychologic variables such as attitudes and beliefs may account for patients choosing not to seek treatment for pain; however, there is a dearth of empirical research to support this contention. The aim of this study was to explore the help-seeking behavior, individual characteristics, attitudes, and beliefs of older adults with chronic pain in an Irish community setting. A descriptive correlational design was used. A convenience sample of 72 older adults with chronic pain were recruited through two primary care practices. The research instruments used were a demographic questionnaire, the Level of Expressed Need Questionnaire, which measured help-seeking behavior, the Pain Attitudes Questionnaire, and the Pain Beliefs Questionnaire. Results revealed that individual characteristics associated with help-seeking behavior were female gender, increasing age, higher education, living alone, and severe pain. High levels of stoicism were reported, indicating that participants were more likely to believe they had superior pain control and courage in the face of pain and were not willing to disclose their pain to others. These attitudes were significantly associated with lower levels of expressed need for treatment. Participants had moderate age-related beliefs about the origin of pain, but those who believed pain had an organic cause were more likely to seek help.Chronic Pain: The Help-Seeking Behavior, Attitudes, and Beliefs of Older Adults Living in the CommunityNicola Cornally, Geraldine McCarthy10.1016/j.pmn.2010.12.006Pain Management Nursing 12, 4 (2011)2011-02-28Pain Management Nursing2011-02-28124S1524-9042(11)X0006-1Original Articles206217http://www.painmanagementnursing.org/article/PIIS1524904210000871/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: It is recommended that patient's self-report of pain should be obtained as often as possible as the “gold standard.” Unfortunately in critical care, many factors can alter verbal communication with patients, making pain assessment more difficult. Scientific advances in understanding pain mechanisms, multidimensional methods of pain assessment, and analgesic pharmacology have improved pain management strategies. However, pain assessment for nonverbal patients in critical care continues to present a challenge for clinicians and researchers. The purpose of this study was to compare the Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD) and the Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) scores for assessment in nonverbal critical care patients. A descriptive, comparative, prospective design was used in this study. A convenience sample of 100 critical care, nonverbal, adult patients of varying medical diagnoses who required pain evaluation were assessed with the PAINAD and CPOT scales. Data were collected over a 6-month period in all critical care areas. Observations of pain assessments for nonverbal patients who required pain evaluation were recorded on the PAINAD and the CPOT successively. Internal consistency reliability for the PAINAD was 0.80 and for the CPOT 0.72. Limits of agreement indicated that there was no difference in PAINAD and CPOT scores for assessing pain in nonverbal patients in critical care. Further research in the area of pain assessment for nonverbal patients in critical care is needed.Comparison of Two Pain Assessment Tools in Nonverbal Critical Care PatientsMelissa Paulson-Conger, Jane Leske, Carolyn Maidl, Andrew Hanson, Laurel Dziadulewicz10.1016/j.pmn.2010.05.008Pain Management Nursing 12, 4 (2011)2010-09-13Pain Management Nursing2010-09-13124S1524-9042(11)X0006-1Original Articles218224http://www.painmanagementnursing.org/article/PIIS1524904210001736/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: The American Society for Pain Management Nursing (ASPMN) holds the position that a placebo should not be used by any method to assess and/or manage an individual’s pain regardless of their age or diagnosis. The only justifiable use of placebos is for participants enrolled in a blinded clinical trial. These clinical trials must be Institutional Review Board (or equivalent) approved with participants clearly informed that they may receive a placebo before they consent to participate and actually have the sham treatment administered.Use of Placebos in Pain ManagementPaul Arnstein, Kathleen Broglio, Elsa Wuhrman, Mary Beth Kean10.1016/j.pmn.2010.10.033Pain Management Nursing 12, 4 (2011)2011-03-04Pain Management Nursing2011-03-04124S1524-9042(11)X0006-1Position Statements225229http://www.painmanagementnursing.org/article/PIIS1524904211001883/abstract?rss=yesPain is a subjective experience, and no objective tests exist to measure it (). Whenever possible, the existence and intensity of pain are measured by the patient's self-report, abiding by the clinical definition of pain which states, “Pain is whatever the experiencing person says it is, existing whenever he/she says it does” (). Unfortunately, some patients cannot provide a self-report of pain verbally, in writing, or by other means, such as finger span () or blinking their eyes to answer yes or no questions ().Pain Assessment in the Patient Unable to Self-Report: Position Statement with Clinical Practice RecommendationsKeela Herr, Patrick J. Coyne, Margo McCaffery, Renee Manworren, Sandra Merkel10.1016/j.pmn.2011.10.002Pain Management Nursing 12, 4 (2011)2011-12-01Pain Management Nursing2011-12-01124S1524-9042(11)X0006-1Position Statements230250http://www.painmanagementnursing.org/article/PIIS1524904210001384/abstract?rss=yesCancer Pain: From Molecules to Suffering is based on presentations given at an international symposium on cancer pain sponsored by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP). One of the many strengths of the book is the focus on an international perspective regarding cancer pain. The 42 contributing authors represent countries from around the world and are among the top experts in their fields. The editors skillfully combine the latest cutting-edge basic science research and clinical research in a wide range of topics related to cancer pain.Cancer Pain: From Molecules to SufferingCarol P. Curtiss10.1016/j.pmn.2010.09.003Pain Management Nursing 12, 4 (2011)2011-03-04Pain Management Nursing2011-03-04124S1524-9042(11)X0006-1Book Review251251http://www.painmanagementnursing.org/article/PIIS1524904211001974/abstract?rss=yesEditorial Board10.1016/S1524-9042(11)00197-4Pain Management Nursing 12, 4 (2011)2011-12-01Pain Management Nursing2011-12-01124S1524-9042(11)X0006-1FrontmatterA4A4http://www.painmanagementnursing.org/article/PIIS1524904211001986/abstract?rss=yesTable of Contents10.1016/S1524-9042(11)00198-6Pain Management Nursing 12, 4 (2011)2011-12-01Pain Management Nursing2011-12-01124S1524-9042(11)X0006-1FrontmatterA12A12http://www.painmanagementnursing.org/article/PIIS1524904211001998/abstract?rss=yesInformation for Readers10.1016/S1524-9042(11)00199-8Pain Management Nursing 12, 4 (2011)2011-12-01Pain Management Nursing2011-12-01124S1524-9042(11)X0006-1FrontmatterA13A13http://www.painmanagementnursing.org/article/PIIS1524904211002001/abstract?rss=yesInformation for Authors10.1016/S1524-9042(11)00200-1Pain Management Nursing 12, 4 (2011)2011-12-01Pain Management Nursing2011-12-01124S1524-9042(11)X0006-1FrontmatterA14A16