Choice of nonpharmacological pain therapies by ethnically diverse older adults

Longitudinal Associations of Family Relationship Quality With Chronic Pain Incidence and Persistence Among Aging African Americans

OBJECTIVES

This study examines how family relationships convey risk or resilience for pain outcomes for aging African Americans, and to replicate and extend analyses across 2 nationally representative studies of aging health.

METHODS

African American participants in Midlife in the United States (MIDUS, N = 755) and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS, N = 2,585) self-reported chronic pain status at 2006 waves and then again 10 years later. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of pain incidence and persistence explained by family, intimate partner, and parent-child strain and support, as well as average support and average strain across relationships.

RESULTS

On average, MIDUS participants were younger (M = 52.35, SD = 12.06; 62.1% female) than HRS (M = 66.65, SD = 10.92; 63.7% female). Family support and average support were linked to decreased odds of pain incidence in MIDUS, but only when tested without accounting for strain, whereas parent-child strain was a risk factor for pain incidence in HRS, as was average strain. Family support protected against pain persistence in MIDUS, whereas average support was linked to reduced odds of pain persisting in HRS.

DISCUSSION

Chronic pain outcomes are worse for African Americans for a number of reasons, but parent-child strain may contribute to the risk of new pain developing over time for older adults. Conversely, family support may offer a protective benefit for pain incidence and persistence among aging African Americans. Findings implicate family relationships as a potential target of pain management interventions.

Exploring the Experiences of Co-morbid Pain and Depression in Older African American Women and Their Preferred Management Strategies

The intersection of race, gender, and age places older African American women at an increased risk for untreated physical pain and depression that can significantly diminish their quality of life. The objectives of this study were to (1) explore older African American women's perceptions of pain and depressive symptoms and how these symptoms influence each other, and (2) explore effective pain and depression alleviation strategies used by the women. We conducted five focus groups with older African American women (N = 18). We used deductive coding to analyze focus group transcripts and qualitative description to summarize themes. We identified five major themes: (1) Spiritual Suffering from Linked Pain and Depression, (2) Lack of Understanding from Healthcare Providers, (3) Push Through and Live Through, (4) Medications Not Worth the Risk and, (5) Strategies for Pain and Depression. This study offers insight into the experiences of pain and depression in older African American women, and alleviation strategies they perceive as effective. These qualitative findings may be used to inform interventions for older African American women who experience pain and depressive symptoms.

Barriers and facilitators to older adults' use of nonpharmacologic approaches for chronic pain: a person-focused model

ABSTRACT

In the context of the opioid epidemic and the growing population of older adults living with chronic pain, clinicians are increasingly recommending nonpharmacologic approaches to patients as complements to or substitutes for pharmacologic treatments for pain. Currently, little is known about the factors that influence older adults' use of these approaches. We aimed to characterize the factors that hinder or support the use of nonpharmacologic approaches for pain management among older adults with multiple morbidities. We collected semistructured qualitative interview data from 25 older adults with multiple morbidities living with chronic pain for 6 months or more. Transcripts were coded to identify factors that hindered or supported participants' use of various nonpharmacologic approaches. We used the constant comparative method to develop a person-focused model of barriers and facilitators to participants' use of these approaches for chronic pain management. Participants described a wide range of factors that influenced their use of nonpharmacologic approaches. We grouped these factors into 3 person-focused domains: awareness of the nonpharmacologic approach as relevant to their chronic pain, appeal of the approach, and access to the approach. We propose and illustrate a conceptual model of barriers and facilitators to guide research and clinical care. This study identifies numerous factors that influence patients' use of nonpharmacologic approaches, some of which are not captured in existing research or routinely addressed in clinical practice. The person-centered model proposed may help to structure and support patient-clinician communication about nonpharmacologic approaches to chronic pain management.

Patterns and Perceptions of Self-Management for Osteoarthritis Pain in African American Older Adults

OBJECTIVE

To explore and describe older African Americans' patterns and perceptions of managing chronic osteoarthritis pain.

METHODS

A convergent parallel mixed-methods design incorporating cross-sectional surveys and individual, semistructured interviews.

SETTING

One hundred ten African Americans (≥50 years of age) with clinical osteoarthritis (OA) or provider-diagnosed OA from communities in northern Louisiana were enrolled.

RESULTS

Although frequency varied depending on the severity of pain, older African Americans actively used an average of seven to eight self-management strategies over the course of a month to control pain. The average number of self-management strategies between high and low education and literacy groups was not statistically different, but higher-educated adults used approximately one additional strategy than those with high school or less. To achieve pain relief, African Americans relied on 10 self-management strategies that were inexpensive, easy to use and access, and generally perceived as helpful: over-the-counter (OTC) topicals, thermal modalities, land-based exercise, spiritual activities, OTC and prescribed analgesics, orthotic and assistive devices, joint injections, rest, and massage and vitamins.

CONCLUSIONS

This is one of the first studies to quantitatively and qualitatively investigate the self-management of chronic OA pain in an older African American population that happened to be a predominantly higher-educated and health-literate sample. Findings indicate that Southern-dwelling African Americans are highly engaged in a range of different self-management strategies, many of which are self-initiated. Although still an important component of chronic pain self-management, spirituality was used by less than half of African Americans, but use of oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids was relatively high.

"Bearing the Pain": The Experience of Aging African Americans With Osteoarthritis Pain

Studies document that osteoarthritis-related joint pain is more severe in African American older adults, but research on the personal experience of osteoarthritis pain self-management in this population is limited. Using a qualitative descriptive design, our objective was to extend our understanding of the experience of life with osteoarthritis pain. Eighteen African Americans (50 years and older) were recruited from Louisiana to participate in a single semi-structured, in-depth interview. A conventional content analysis revealed that “Bearing the pain” characterized how older African Americans dealt with osteoarthritis. Bearing the pain comprised three actions: adjusting to pain, sharing pain with others, and trusting God as healer. We discovered that a metapersonal experience subsumes the complex biopsychosocial-cultural patterns and the intricate interaction of self, others, and God in living with and managing osteoarthritis pain. Study findings have implications for application of more inclusive self-management frameworks and interventions.

Sociocultural factors influencing physiotherapy management in culturally and linguistically diverse people with persistent pain: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

People with persistent pain from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities experience significant health inequities.

OBJECTIVE

To synthesise the sociocultural factors influencing pain management between CALD patients with persistent pain and physiotherapists treating CALD patients.

DATA SOURCES

Major electronic databases MEDLINE, AMED, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO and Google Scholar were searched until July 2018.

STUDY SELECTION

Studies were included if they explored clinical interactions between physiotherapists and patients with persistent pain from diverse ethnocultural backgrounds.

STUDY APPRAISAL

The methodological quality of qualitative and quantitative studies were assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) Checklist and Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) respectively.

SYNTHESIS METHOD

A thematic synthesis approach was used to extract the common themes.

RESULTS

Sixteen articles from 16 studies were included. Eleven studies were qualitative and five studies were quantitative. Ten explored patients' perspectives, four explored physiotherapists' perspectives, and two explored both. Key factors included: (a) language competence; (b) active vs passive coping strategies; (c) gendered influences; (d) cultural-spiritual beliefs, illness perceptions and expression of pain; (e) treatment satisfaction and; (f) barriers to access.

CONCLUSION

Discordant perspectives on causation, pain management approaches, and patient autonomy in management are evident between CALD patients and physiotherapists. Such discordance potentially create stress in the therapeutic alliance and undermines the efficacy of pain management interventions. To mitigate such barriers, it is crucial to foster cultural competence in physiotherapy and equip physiotherapists with opportunities to maximise their sociocultural awareness, knowledge and skill practising physiotherapy in cultural plural societies.

Black American older adults' motivation to engage in osteoarthritis treatment recommendations for pain self-management: A mixed methods study

BACKGROUND

Osteoarthritis is a long-term condition, and four core treatments are recommended to minimize the interference of pain and symptoms on their daily function. However, older Black Americans have traditionally been at a disadvantage in regard to knowledge of and engagement in chronic disease self-management and self-care. Surprisingly, minimal research has addressed understanding motivational factors key to self-management behaviors. Thus, it is important to understand if older Black Americans' self-management is supported by current recommendations for the management of symptomatic osteoarthritis and what factors limit or motivate engagement in recommended treatments.

OBJECTIVE

Our objectives are to: (1) identify stage of engagement in four core recommended treatments for osteoarthritis, (2) describe the barriers and motivators to these recommended treatments, and (3) construct an understanding of the process of pain self-management motivation.

DESIGN

A mixed-methods concurrent parallel design.

SETTING

Participants were recruited from communities in northern Louisiana, USA.

PARTICIPANTS

Black Americans (≥50 years of age) with clinical osteoarthritis and/or provider-diagnosed osteoarthritis were enrolled. One hundred ten participants completed the study, and 18 of these individuals were also interviewed individually.

METHODS

Data were collected using in-person surveys and interviews. Over a period of 11 months, close- and open-ended surveys and in-depth interviews were conducted with participants. Descriptive statistics describe utilization/engagement level as well as barriers and motivators of recommended treatments for non-surgical osteoarthritis. Content and thematic analyses of interviews summarized perspectives on the process and role of motivation in pain self-management.

RESULTS

Overall, engagement levels in treatments ranged from very low to high. Over 55% of older Black Americans were actively engaged in two of the recommended treatments: land-based exercise and strength training. Major motivators included reduction in pain and stiffness and maintenance of mobility and good health. The majority of participants were not using water-based exercise and self-management education. Primary barriers were lack of access, time, and knowledge of resources.

CONCLUSIONS

In order to maximize the benefits of osteoarthritis pain self-management, older Black Americans must be equipped with the motivation, resources, information and skills, and time to engage in recommended treatment options. Their repertoire of behavioral self-management did not include two key treatments and is inconsistent with what is recommended, predominantly due to barriers that are difficult to overcome. In these cases, motivation alone is not optimal in promoting self-management. Providers, researchers, and community advocates should work collaboratively to expand access to self-management resources, particularly when personal and community motivation are high.

How Patient Education Influences Utilization of Nonpharmacological Modalities for Persistent Pain Management: An Integrative Review

OBJECTIVES

Opioid analgesic misuse and abuse has given rise to an epidemic that has added to an increase in opioid-related overdoses and deaths. Adults with persistent noncancer pain (PNCP) are primarily treated with opioid analgesics. Many remain on these medications long term. Most of these patients are unaware of other effective measures for managing PNCP, such as nonpharmacologic modalities (NPMs). This lack of familiarity with NPMs presents a key contributor to the problem of NPM underuse among adult PNCP patients. This integrative review sought to identify key factors that contribute to NPMs underuse and the effect of education on patients' adoption or use for PNCP management.

DESIGN

Integrative review.

DATA SOURCES

A literature search was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane, and hand-searching of the literature published between 2002 and November 2017.

REVIEW/ANALYSIS METHODS

Systematic screening using the Johns Hopkins Nursing evidence appraisal tools yielded articles that were analyzed and synthesized to identify themes, and patterns.

RESULTS

Nineteen research articles were identified with these main themes: NPMs are effective in PNCP management, lack of familiarity with NPMs influences patients' willingness to try them, and access to local NPMs must be addressed to facilitate use.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that patient education about NPMs has the potential to motivate patients to try these modalities, which may increase overall use of NPMs for PCNP. Nurses could play a vital role in ensuring evidence-based NPMs are introduced to PNCP patients, which could increase patients' use of these measures and improve outcomes.

An Integrative Review of Scientific Evidence for Reconnective Healing

Background: Biofield therapies offer a novel, non-invasive approach to treating chronic diseases based on assessing and adjusting an individual's physiological and emotional responses through their bio-energetic field. Reconnective Healing^™ (RH) is defined as: “…not just energy healing, but instead a more comprehensive spectrum of healing composed of energy, light, and information.”

Objectives: Several biofield therapies, such as Reiki, Therapeutic Touch and Johrei, have already been reviewed in the literature but RH has received little attention even though it is taught and practiced worldwide. This review provides a critical assessment of RH as a healing modality.

Methods: Scientific research articles published in peer-reviewed journals addressing RH were identified using relevant databases and archives. Information was extracted from each article that met selection criteria for evaluation of quality of reporting and design. This review summarizes and critically evaluates the five currently published peer-reviewed research papers involving RH and assesses whether RH provides consistent physiological outcomes between the studies.

Results: These results, taken together, suggest: (i) exposure of a healer or healee to RH, either directly or indirectly, amplifies their degree of autonomic arousal and energy, (ii) RH can reduce pain and improve range of motion in people with shoulder limitations, and (iii) when individuals experience RH as a group, their autonomic nervous systems simultaneously show sudden similar responses consistent with the idea that RH is mitigated by entrainment of biofields.

Conclusions: Since these studies are extremely varied in design it is not possible at this point to reach conclusions about the general effectiveness of RH. More clinical and physiological research performed on different populations under a range of conditions is needed in order to support this healthcare approach.

Culturally Responsive Pain Management for Black Older Adults

HOW TO OBTAIN CONTACT HOURS BY READING THIS ARTICLE INSTRUCTIONS XX contact hours will be awarded by Villanova University College of Nursing upon successful completion of this activity. A contact hour is a unit of measurement that denotes 60 minutes of an organized learning activity. This is a learner-based activity. Villanova University College of Nursing does not require submission of your answers to the quiz. A contact hour certificate will be awarded once you register, pay the registration fee, and complete the evaluation form online at http://goo.gl/gMfXaf. To obtain contact hours you must: 1. Read the article, "XXXX XXXX XXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXX XXX XXXX XX" found on pages XX-XX, carefully noting any tables and other illustrative materials that are included to enhance your knowledge and understanding of the content. Be sure to keep track of the amount of time (number of minutes) you spend reading the article and completing the quiz. 2. Read and answer each question on the quiz. After completing all of the questions, compare your answers to those provided within this issue. If you have incorrect answers, return to the article for further study. 3. Go to the Villanova website listed above to register for contact hour credit. You will be asked to provide your name; contact information; and a VISA, MasterCard, or Discover card number for payment of the $20.00 fee. Once you complete the online evaluation, a certificate will be automatically generated. This activity is valid for continuing education credit until MONTH XX, 20XX. CONTACT HOURS This activity is co-provided by Villanova University College of Nursing and SLACK Incorporated. Villanova University College of Nursing is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. ACTIVITY OBJECTIVES 1. XXX 2. XXX DISCLOSURE STATEMENT Neither the planners nor the author have any conflicts of interest to disclose. The management of pain for Black older adults has received inadequate attention by health care professionals despite evidence of greater pain intensity, depressive symptoms, and functional disability compared with White American older adults. Pain management for this population may be significantly improved with more careful attention to the provision of culturally responsive care. As professionals concerned with the optimization of health and reduction of suffering throughout the lifespan, nurses have an ethical, moral, and professional responsibility to provide culturally responsive care to the populations they serve-particularly when clear disparities in health exist. By considering how culture affects important health beliefs, values, preferences, and customs, and integrating this understanding into practice, quality of life is likely to be improved. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, xx(x), xx-xx.].

The moderating and covarying effects of social support and pain intensity on depressive symptomology among racially and ethnically diverse older adults

Aim: To examine the interplay of social support, pain intensity and ethnicity as moderators and covariates of relationship on depressive symptomatology. Methods: Racially and ethnically diverse elders responded to measures of depressive symptomatology and social support. Results: Hispanics reported significantly higher prevalence of moderate pain intensity and depressive symptomology, and lower prevalence of high social support compared with other ethnic groups. Although social support showed reduced depressive symptomatology among those with high pain intensity, it did not play a significant role in decreasing depressive symptomatology among those with low/moderate pain intensity. Conclusion: Social support in decreasing depressive symptomatology is more effective in older adults with high pain intensity than those with moderate or low levels of pain intensity.

Older peoples' strategies for coping with chronic non-malignant pain: A qualitative meta-synthesis

BACKGROUND

There is evidence that chronic pain is not recognised or managed effectively in older people. It is important to examine how older people cope with this because of the impact it can have on their quality of life and mortality. It will also enable nurses to work with older people to support effective coping skills and provide information on other useful coping strategies.

OBJECTIVES

To examine how older people cope with non-malignant chronic pain.

DESIGN

This is a qualitative meta-synthesis using Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research developed by Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation working group to evaluate the strength of the evidence.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed and Ovid Medline from 1995 to 2015.

REVIEW METHODS

Following a systematic search strategy all papers were assessed in relation to inclusion criteria and quality. Only qualitative studies were included. Themes were extracted from each study and a meta-synthesis conducted before completing an evaluation of confidence in the findings.

RESULTS

Seventeen primary studies were included in the meta-synthesis. Three meta-themes were identified: 'adjusting to the inevitable', 'doing it my way without medication' and 'the importance of support in managing the struggle'. There was high confidence in the evidence for 'doing it my way without medication' and moderate confidence in the evidence for the other two meta-themes.

CONCLUSION

Given that the participants in the primary studies were generally wary of health professionals and stoic in their response to pain, it is important for nurses to communicate in ways that engage older people and ensure their independence and sense of control remains intact. Identification of current coping strategies will enable the nurse and the older person to work together to assess their effectiveness and to adapt these if more effective coping is required.

Pain Treatment of Underserved Older African Americans

Older African Americans who experience pain are especially at high risk of underassessment and undertreatment. This study examined patterns and correlates of pain medication use: severity of pain, medical conditions, and access to care. African Americans aged 65 and older were recruited from 16 churches located in south Los Angeles (N = 400). Structured face-to-face interviews and visual inspection of each participant's medications were conducted. More than 39% of participants were aged 75 and older, and 65% were female. Forty-seven percent used at least one type of pain medication. The frequency of pain medication use according to pharmaceutical class was nonopioid, 33%; opioid, 12%; adjuvant, 9%; and other drug, 8%. Seventy-seven percent of nonopioids were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which 25% of participants with hypertension, 28% with stroke, 26% with kidney disease, and 28% with gastrointestinal problems used. Ninety-eight percent of participants who used NSAIDs, 98% experienced potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use, 69% experienced drug duplication, and 65% experienced drug-drug interactions. This study suggests severe mismanagement of pain in underserved older African Americans, particularly those with comorbidity, multiple providers, and limited access to health care. The use of pain medication was associated with drug-drug interactions, drug duplication, and PIM use. The data show that many participants with severe pain are not taking pain medication or experience PIM use. One in four participants was taking NSAIDs, which can cause serious side effects in older African Americans with multiple chronic conditions.

The Relationship between Pain, Disability, and Sex in African Americans

Older African Americans consistently report diminished capacities to perform activities of daily living (ADL) compared with other racial groups. The extent to which bodily pain is related to declining abilities to perform ADL/ADL disability in African Americans remains unclear, as does whether this relationship exists to the same degree in African American men and women. For nurses to provide optimal care for older African Americans, a better understanding of the relationship between bodily pain and ADL disability and how it may differ by sex is needed. The aim of this study was to examine whether pain, age, education, income, marital status and/or comorbid conditions were associated with ADL disabilities in older African American women and men. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. The sample included 598 participants (446 women, 152 men) from the first wave of the Baltimore Study on Black Aging. African American women (odds ratio [OR] = 4.06; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.63-6.26) and African American men (OR = 6.44; 95% CI = 2.84-14.57) who reported bodily pain had greater ADL disability than those who did not report bodily pain. Having two or more comorbid conditions also was significantly associated with ADL disability in African American women (OR = 3.95; 95% CI: 2.09-7.47). Further work is needed to understand pain differences between older African American women and men to develop interventions that can be tailored to meet the individual pain needs of both groups.

Chronic Pain in Older African American Grandparent Caregivers

African American grandparent caregiving is increasing, and evidence shows that grandparent caregiving influences health and its management. As older adults age, their potential of experiencing chronic pain increases, and this is profound given that physiological research shows that African Americans, aside from aging, may have a predisposition for developing chronic pain. Research shows older African Americans experience significant chronic pain, but few have discussed the implications of managing chronic pain in older African Americans who have added parental responsibility. Many older African Americans receive home healthcare services and there is a unique role for home healthcare clinicians in caring for this vulnerable population. This article discusses the impact of pain on caregiving, challenges in pain management, and practice and policy implications to assist home healthcare clinicians maintain the safety and protection of both the older grandparent and grandchildren.

Culturally Conscientious Pain Measurement in Older African Americans

Despite considerable pain disparities across the care continuum, pain is an understudied health problem in older ethnic minority groups, such as African Americans. Quality pain measurement is a core task in pain management and a mechanism by which pain disparities may be reduced. Pain measurement includes the methods (e.g., assessment approaches, tools) and metrics that researchers and clinicians use to understand the characteristics of pain. However, there are significant issues and gaps that negatively affect pain measurement in older African Americans. Of concern is insufficient representation in pain research, which impedes the testing and refinement of many standardized self-report, behavioral and surrogate report, physiological, and composite measures of pain. The purposes for this article are to discuss the status of pain measurement and factors that affect our knowledge on pain measurement in older African Americans, and to provide guidance for culturally conscientious pain measurement using the available literature.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Pain Intensity Among Ethnically Diverse Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Chronic pain is highly prevalent in older adults and often negatively associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study compared HRQoL, including physical health and mental health, in persons of differing ethnicities, and identified factors associated with pain intensity and HRQoL in ethnically diverse older adults. Older adults with chronic pain from four ethnic groups (African Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, Hispanics, and European Americans) were recruited from the Florida Atlantic University Healthy Aging Research Initiative (HARI) registry. The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) was used to evaluate HRQoL, including functional status, emotional well-being, and social functioning. Of 593 persons in the four ethnic groups in the registry, 174 met the inclusion criteria (pain level of four or higher on an 11-point scale, lasting 3 months or longer). Among these 174, African Americans reported the highest level of pain intensity, followed by Afro-Caribbeans, Hispanics, and European Americans. Hispanics reported the highest physical health scores and the lowest mental health scores. In contrast, African Americans reported the highest mental health scores and the lowest physical health scores. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that ethnicity, lower physical health scores, and lower mental health scores were significantly (p ≤ .01) associated with pain intensity. Understanding ethnic variations in response to pain intensity may address gaps in knowledge about HRQoL to reduce disparities in optimal care. Health care providers should consider ethnic norms and cultural diversity to provide optimal interventions for this population.