School of Health and Social Care, University of Surrey, Surrey, UK.
J Clin Nurs. 2012 Dec;21(23-24):3335-45. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2012.04136.x. Epub 2012 Jul 23.
To provide information on the profile and practice of nurses in the UK who prescribe medication for pain.
Pain is widely under-reported and under-treated and can have negative consequences for health and psychosocial well-being. Indications are that nurses can improve treatment and access to pain medications when they prescribe. Whilst nurses working in many practice areas treat patients with pain, little is known about the profile, prescribing practice or training needs of these nurses.
A descriptive questionnaire survey.
An online questionnaire was used to survey 214 nurses who prescribed for pain in the UK between May and July 2010. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests.
Half the participants (50%) worked in primary care, 32% in secondary care and 14% worked across care settings. A range of services were provided, including general practice, palliative care, pain management, emergency care, walk-in-centres and out-of-hours. The majority (86%) independently prescribed 1-20 items per week. Non-opioid and weak opioids analgesics were prescribed by most (95%) nurses, whereas fewer (35%) prescribed strong opioids. Training in pain had been undertaken by 97% and 82% felt adequately trained, although 28% had problems accessing training. Those with specialist training prescribed a wider range of pain medications, were more likely to prescribe strong opioids and were more often in pain management roles.
Nurses prescribe for pain in a range of settings with an emphasis on the treatment of minor ailments and acute pain. A range of medications are prescribed, and most nurses have access to training.
The nursing contribution to pain treatment must be acknowledged within initiatives to improve pain management. Access to ongoing training is required to support nurse development in this area of practice to maximise benefits.
提供英国开具止痛药的护士的概况和实践信息。
疼痛广泛报告不足且治疗不足，可能对健康和心理社会福祉产生负面影响。有迹象表明，当护士开具处方时，可以改善治疗和获得止痛药的机会。虽然许多实践领域的护士都在治疗疼痛患者，但对于这些护士的概况、处方实践或培训需求知之甚少。
描述性问卷调查。
2010 年 5 月至 7 月期间，使用在线问卷对英国 214 名开具止痛药的护士进行了调查。使用描述性统计和非参数检验对数据进行分析。
一半的参与者（50%）在初级保健机构工作，32%在二级保健机构工作，14%在跨保健机构工作。提供了各种服务，包括全科医疗、姑息治疗、疼痛管理、急诊、步行中心和非工作时间服务。大多数（86%）每周独立开具 1-20 种药物。大多数护士开具非阿片类和弱阿片类镇痛药，而较少（35%）开具强阿片类药物。97%的护士接受过疼痛培训，82%的护士认为培训充分，但 28%的护士在获得培训方面存在困难。接受过专科培训的护士开具的止痛药种类更广泛，更有可能开具强阿片类药物，并且更常担任疼痛管理角色。
护士在各种环境下开具止痛药，重点是治疗轻微疾病和急性疼痛。开具的药物种类繁多，大多数护士都可以接受培训。
在改善疼痛管理的举措中，必须承认护士在疼痛治疗方面的贡献。需要获得持续培训，以支持护士在这一实践领域的发展，最大限度地发挥其优势。
