Introduction
Managing pain is one of the acutest problems in health care since it significantly affects patient outcomes. Additionally, the complexity of pain management approaches may impact nurses’ job satisfaction. Thus, scholars frequently focus their research on this aspect of nursing care, paying attention both to patients’ and nurses’ perspectives. The research article by Egan and Cornally (2013) is concerned with the identification of barriers to pain management in long-term care. The purpose of the paper is to discuss the study’s research question and design, sample and methods, as well as limitations and findings. Also, the implications of the article to evidence-based nursing practice will be considered.
Research Question
There is no specifically outlined research question in Egan’s and Cornally’s (2013) article. However, the authors clearly defined the aim of their study: it was singling out challenges to successful pain management in long-term care from a nursing perspective.
The question on which Egan and Cornally (2013) focused gained much attention from practitioners and scholars. Long (2013) investigated pain management in long-term care and remarked that training programs for nurses could eliminate the problem. Gropelli and Sharer (2013) concentrated on nurses’ perception of pain management and noted that it was more difficult to deal with that issue in long-term care. The majority of patients requiring such care are elderly people, and they frequently find it difficult to evaluate their pain level. The trend that could have affected the research question is the currently unsatisfactory approach to pain management.
Research Design
The study had a quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional research design. Egan and Cornally (2013) used a questionnaire to ask nurses about the perceived barriers to optimal pain management. The questionnaire was borrowed from a 2010 study by Coker et al. (as cited in Egan & Cornally, 2013, p. 26). The survey was composed of two parts: the first part included questions associated with obstacles to pain management, and the second part contained questions on the participants’ demographic variables.
The strengths of such a research design are concerned with the possibility to collect data directly from respondents and to do it quickly and cheaply. The major weakness is that participants may be biased when answering questions. The authors probably have used this design because it allowed receiving nurses’ direct replies very quickly.
Sample
The sample was composed of nurses working in five different long-term care facilities, three of which were public, and two were private. 138 questionnaires were distributed by the authors, and 83 were returned. Thus, it is possible to conclude that both the sample size and the number of participants were lower than needed to investigate the issue. It would have been useful to collect the opinions of at least 300 nurses from at least ten facilities. A larger number of participants and sample would have produced more reliable results.
Data Collection Methods
Data were collected by researchers with the help of a self-report questionnaire. For practical reasons, Egan and Cornally (2013) used a convenience sample. Different facilities were employed to eliminate the risk of atypical values influencing the study results and respondent variation. The authors exploited descriptive statistics (averages, percentages, and standard deviations) to describe the obtained data. Further, they performed the statistical analysis and data analysis with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.0 for Windows (Egan & Cornally, 2013). Prior to conducting research, ethical approval was obtained from the clinical research ethics committee of the Cork Teaching Hospitals.
Limitations of the Study
The major limitation of the article is the small sample. The authors admit that it was only a small-scale study the results of which should be interpreted with caution (Egan & Cornally, 2013). However, it is possible to overcome these disadvantages in future research by increasing the number of participants. Limitations are important to mention in studies because they give an opportunity for readers and other researchers to make conclusions about the study’s reliability and future implications.
Reported Findings
The findings of the study are concerned with the identification of barriers to optimal pain management at different levels. In particular, Egan and Cornally (2013) explained caregiver-related, patient-related, and organizational-related barriers. The findings corresponded with the research question posed within the article. Findings seem credible, but it is necessary to take into account the sample size when deciding whether findings should be regarded as highly reliable.
Summary
The article by Egan and Cornally (2013) is dedicated to a paramount issue of the modern healthcare system. Pain is a complex phenomenon, and it is necessary to learn about the barriers to effective pain management so as to be able to help patients.
The key components of the study are the description of the research design and method of data collection and the discussion of findings. Due attention was paid to ethical considerations and the acknowledgment of limitations. The practice change suggested by the authors is warranted, and the study has serious implications for practice. Although the article by Egan and Cornally (2013) has some minor disadvantages, it is a valuable resource for anyone investigating the barriers to effective pain management in long-term care facilities.
References
Egan, M., & Cornally, N. (2013). Identifying barriers to pain management in long-term care. Nursing Older People, 25(7), 25-31.
Gropelli, T., & Sharer, J. (2013). Nurses’ perceptions of pain management in older adults. Medsurg Nursing, 22(6), 375-382.
Long, C. O. (2013). Pain management education in long-term care: It can make a difference. Pain Management Nursing, 14(4), 220-227.