The effectiveness of an integrated pain management program for older persons and staff in nursing homes

Abstract This study examined the effects of an 8-week integrated pain management program (IPMP) on enhancing the knowledge and attitude toward pain management among staff; and improving the pain, quality of life, physical and psychosocial functions, and use of non-drug therapies for the elderly in nursing homes. Nursing home staff ( N  = 147) and residents ( N  = 535) were recruited from ten nursing homes. Nursing homes were randomly assigned into an experimental group ( N  = 296) with IPMP or control group ( N  = 239) without IPMP. The IPMP consisted of pain education for staff and physical exercise and multisensory stimulation art and craft therapy for residents. Data were collected before and after the IPMP. The staff demonstrated a significant improvement in knowledge and attitude to pain management, with the survey score increasing from 8.46 ± 3.74 to 19.43 ± 4.07 ( p p p p