Management of pain
The expert panel unanimously agreed with
the use of an analgesic ladder approach to pain
management, with patients requiring stronger
analgesics and additional interventions, such as
the administration of nitrous oxide (Entonox),
as the perceived level of pain increased, as
assessed using VAS. Therefore, patients with
the highest score (10) are likely to require the
most intervention, which may include more
frequent dressing changes, increased risk of
hospitalisation, need for opioid medication, use
of nitrous oxide (Entonox) and potentially the
initiation of anxiolytic medication. The expert
panel agreed on the categorisation of analgesia
available (Table 5).
Agreement was achieved on which
pharmaceutical intervention was appropriate
for which level of pain, as assessed using the
VAS (Table 6). Approaches to pain relief were
divided into the period before and during
dressing change and the period after or between
dressing changes. There were slight differences
noted in the management of background
wound pain (continuous or intermittent pain
experienced even during rest) and dressing
change-related pain.
The expert panel agreed that the use of strong
opioids is generally reserved for pain above a
VAS score of 5 in both the pre and peri-wound
dressing change period and for the management
of background wound pain. Anxiolytic medication
tends to be reserved for a similar pain score,
however they may be used at lower pain scores
to reduce the effects of anticipatory pain in
individuals perceived by clinicians to be at risk.
The use of nitrous oxide (Entonox) for dressing
change pain is generally reserved for individuals
experiencing pain above a VAS score of 7.
Clinicians were asked to clarify the use of
anxiolytic medication and analgesics in patient
groups to determine the regularity and nature
of medications for controlling dressing
change-related pain.
The results (Figure 3) show that clinicians
estimated that nearly half of their patients
take analgesics for wound-related pain, but
more than half (50%) take analgesics for
non-wound-related pain. An estimated 35%
of patients take multiple analgesic preparations.
Approximately 34% take ‘top-up’ analgesics
before dressing change.
When analysed by care environment, the
expert panel reported analgesics are used more
frequently by patients in the primary care
setting. The expert panel was also asked whether
anxiolytic medication was considered for the
management of pain related to wound dressing
change (Figure 4). Of the total respondents
(n=17), 12% (n=2) of clinicians stated they used
anxiolytic medication regularly. Conversely, 12%
(n=2) of the expert panel stated they rarely or
never used anxiolytic medication.
When these results are viewed in the context
of the care setting differences are noted
(Figure 5). Of the clinicians that regularly used
anxiolytic medication, 25% were based in
the primary or community environment. No
hospital-based clinicians stated they regularly
used this type of medication for pain related
to dressing change. Conversely, those that