Chapter 10: Pain assessment and management
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Non‐pharmacological methods of managing pain
Optimal pain control is more likely to be achieved by combining non‐pharmacological with pharmacological techniques. Despite the lack of robust research evidence to support the effectiveness of many non‐pharmacological techniques, their benefits to patients and families should not be underestimated.
Non‐pharmacological approaches can help to reduce pain by (El Geziry et al. [52]):
- increasing the patient's ability to control their feelings
- reducing the feeling of weakness
- enhancing function and activity levels
- reducing anxiety and stress
- decreasing pain behaviour (e.g. guarding, bracing, rubbing, grimacing and sighing) and focused pain level.
Non‐pharmacological interventions can be categorized into the following:
- psychological interventions
- physical interventions.
