ABSTRACT Pain is a subjective sensation and is difficult to measure. It is important to quantify pain as benefits are obtained from its quantification. The validity and reliability of pain outcome measures have been extensively researched in Europe, America and Asia. In Africa on the other hand, very few studies have been done. This study was a cross-sectional study to validate and test the reliability of pain scales.The aim of this study was to establish the validity and reliability of the Tswana translations of three pain scales, namely, the Visual Analogue scale (two versions), the Verbal Rating Scale and the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Measure. The validity of the study was determined by the face validity,criterion validity and construct validity.The statistical analysis of the results showed several significant p values (p< 0.05).However, none of the correlations illustrated a strong relationship as there were no r values in excess of 0.5 indicating a moderate correlation or greater than 0.7 indicating a good correlation. The statistical significance only indicated that the observed values were not due to chance.From the statistical analysis of the results, it became apparent that the subjects tested did not have an understanding of any of the three scales .This was seen in all the age groups and education levels selected for the purpose of this study. It is our recommendation therefore, that suitable, new scales be developed for our local population. The scales which have been used up until now are not being understood and hence are not being interpreted or used correctly in the South African context amongst Tswana speaking individuals. Future research needs to be done in developing entirely different scales for the South African scenario. More relevant and better understood scales should be developed for our local population to include persons of different languages and different education levels. This will assist in a better understanding of the health care process and will by so doing, improve their health care and management.

<p>Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate how VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) is used in the prehospital environment, and describe how patients 40 years and older with acute chest pain describe their pain with help of VAS. Further, to investigate how the literature describes other instruments to evaluate pain. Method: This was a descriptive study and used both literature and empiric material as foundation. The selection consist of the paramedics medical record from one emergency department, 100 men and 100 women with chest pain witch had been transported with ambulance to one hospital in middle of Sweden. A literature review was done in order to see what previous research recommends for pain rating scales.</p><p>Results: The study showed that 71 (35 %) of 200 individuals pain were rated with VAS according to the guidelines for the ambulance department. The entire selection rated the pain on VAS between 1-10. The group 40-65 years rated their pain relatively high on VAS (3-10), in relation to the group 66-91 years (1-10). The literature does not advocate any special pain rating instrument, but recommend ARS, VRS, NRS and VAS as measures in the prehospital environment.</p> / <p>Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka i vilken omfattning Visuell Analog Skala (VAS) används inom ambulanssjukvården, beskriva hur patienter 40 år och äldre med akuta centrala bröstsmärtor skattar smärtans intensitet med hjälp av VAS. Vidare var syftet att undersöka hur litteraturen beskriver olika instrument för att skatta smärta inom ambulanssjukvården. Metod: Studien har genomförts som en deskriptiv studie och nyttjat både litteratur och empiriskt material som underlag. Urvalet bestod av ambulansjournaler från en ambulansstation, 100 män och 100 kvinnor som transporterats med ambulans till ett sjukhus i Mellansverige på grund av central bröstsmärta. En litteratur genomgång gjordes för att se vad tidigare forskning rekommenderar för smärtskattningsinstrument. Huvudresultat: Studien visade att 71 (35 %) av 200 individer var smärtskattade med hjälp av VAS, enligt riktlinjerna för ambulansen. Hela urvalet skattade smärtan på VAS skalan mellan 1-10. I åldersgruppen 40-65 år skattar de sin smärta relativt högt på VAS skalan (3-10) i förhållande till åldersgruppen 66-91 år (1-10). Litteraturen talar inte entydigt för något speciellt smärtskattnings instrument, men talar för att använda ARS, VRS, NRS och VAS i den prehospitala verksamheten</p>

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate how VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) is used in the prehospital environment, and describe how patients 40 years and older with acute chest pain describe their pain with help of VAS. Further, to investigate how the literature describes other instruments to evaluate pain. Method: This was a descriptive study and used both literature and empiric material as foundation. The selection consist of the paramedics medical record from one emergency department, 100 men and 100 women with chest pain witch had been transported with ambulance to one hospital in middle of Sweden. A literature review was done in order to see what previous research recommends for pain rating scales. Results: The study showed that 71 (35 %) of 200 individuals pain were rated with VAS according to the guidelines for the ambulance department. The entire selection rated the pain on VAS between 1-10. The group 40-65 years rated their pain relatively high on VAS (3-10), in relation to the group 66-91 years (1-10). The literature does not advocate any special pain rating instrument, but recommend ARS, VRS, NRS and VAS as measures in the prehospital environment. / Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka i vilken omfattning Visuell Analog Skala (VAS) används inom ambulanssjukvården, beskriva hur patienter 40 år och äldre med akuta centrala bröstsmärtor skattar smärtans intensitet med hjälp av VAS. Vidare var syftet att undersöka hur litteraturen beskriver olika instrument för att skatta smärta inom ambulanssjukvården. Metod: Studien har genomförts som en deskriptiv studie och nyttjat både litteratur och empiriskt material som underlag. Urvalet bestod av ambulansjournaler från en ambulansstation, 100 män och 100 kvinnor som transporterats med ambulans till ett sjukhus i Mellansverige på grund av central bröstsmärta. En litteratur genomgång gjordes för att se vad tidigare forskning rekommenderar för smärtskattningsinstrument. Huvudresultat: Studien visade att 71 (35 %) av 200 individer var smärtskattade med hjälp av VAS, enligt riktlinjerna för ambulansen. Hela urvalet skattade smärtan på VAS skalan mellan 1-10. I åldersgruppen 40-65 år skattar de sin smärta relativt högt på VAS skalan (3-10) i förhållande till åldersgruppen 66-91 år (1-10). Litteraturen talar inte entydigt för något speciellt smärtskattnings instrument, men talar för att använda ARS, VRS, NRS och VAS i den prehospitala verksamheten

Pain can be a warning sign, but in surgery it is associated mainly with medical procedures. The aim of the research survey was to map out the pain rating scales that are used in practice in surgical patients, to determine the opinion of surgical nurses on these scales and patient experience. Furthermore, the paperwas aimed at the creation of a recommended procedure for evaluation of pain in surgical patients. In the empirical part of the thesis, quantitative and qualitative research was used. In the quantitative research, two questionnaires were created - for nurses (a non-standardized questionnaire) and for surgical patients (a combination of a non-standardized and standardized questionnaire). The focus group method with surgical patients and nurses was used as a qualitative method. The research survey shows that the most commonly used scale in practice is the visual analogue scale and verbal evaluation. Although these methods are widely used, our results suggest that they are not entirely sufficient. Respondents from the groups of nurses and patients wanted to add more accurate verbal description to the evaluation and increase the frequency of pain evaluation by a doctor and nurse. The most frequent symptoms of pain from the perspective of patients included: limited mobility and self-sufficiency, emotional lability, and verbal manifestations. And from the perspective of nurses: limited mobility, non-cooperation, limited self-sufficiency and verbal manifestations. Among the methods that are used most often by patientsto relieve painare medicinesprescribed by the doctor, relief positions, sleep and rest. More than 90% of patients are satisfied with the cooperation with the nurse and the doctor in the evaluation and treatment of pain. Based on the data analysis, a procedure for assessing pain in surgical patients has been proposed. Its clarity and usability were verified using the focus group method with surgical nurses and patients. Both the nurses and the patients assessed the recommended procedure quite positively. Possible pitfalls were perceived in the necessity of sufficient nurse-patient cooperation and enough time to implement the proposed assessment. The research survey was carried out in the territory of the South Bohemian region and is processed as part of thesolution of the GAJU team grant project - Use of Measuring Instruments in Nursing Practice (059/2018/S).

The thesis deals with a definition of pain management issues, role of nurses working with patients in pain and, particularly, perception of pain of patients by nurses. The objective of the research was to identify and to study pain management procedures and, at the same time, to present how nurses perceive and experience the care of patients in pain. The empirical part of the thesis was performed through qualitative investigation using semi-structured interviews with nurses and patients. The respondents included 12 nurses and 8 patients. Based on results of the investigation covert participatory observation was selected as a complementary method. 6 nurses were observed while taking care of patients during a post-surgery period. Most frequently, nurses rate pain of patients by means of VAS (Visual Analogue Scale), however, they quite often assess the value subjectively. Nurses then record the found values regularly into the patient´s chart. Nurses would also appreciate more cooperation with physicians in order to increase efficiency of pain rating. Nurses are able to respond very well to patient´s verbalization of pain and they perceive differences in communication in such situations. The majority of nurses choose pro-active approach to pain alleviation. Nurses have the basic knowledge about non-pharmacological pain alleviation. Perception of pain by nurses is partly affected by length of their practice and by their own experience with pain. Nurses perceive negatively those situations when pain management interventions are not sufficiently effective, when they cannot contact physicians or when they cannot act based on their own discretion. In such situations nurses demonstrate signs of distress. This problem aggravates when nurses work with patients suffering from chronic pain. Nurses have only limited opportunities to improve their education in pain management and communication with patients in pain. Patients in pain mostly see the care provided by nurses positively but they have also provided numerous recommendations for the nurses. The empirical research has shown that nurses meet with patients in pain nearly every day while performing their nursing practice and that assessment of pain plays an important role in pain alleviation. In most cases the exposure of nurses to patients in pain causes their negative emotional experience, such as sadness or fear of complications. Their experience is affected by several factors. In general, the issues of pain perception by nurses in comparison with pain management techniques are often neglected. Nevertheless, from the viewpoint of mental stress, pain perception is an indisputable factor that deserves more detailed investigation.

A crossover design study was conducted to determine if reducing pain, by using alternative sites off the finger tip, would increase testing frequency and improve clinical outcome as measured by glycosylated hemoglobin. Subjects with type I and type 2 diabetes tested with the FreeStyle alternative-site meter (group I) or tested with their original meter (group 2). After 3 months the subjects used the alternate meter. Testing frequency and blood glucose concentrations were recorded for the month before the study began and monthly thereafter. Glycosylated hemoglobin was tested initially, at the crossover point, and at study conclusion. Insulin users increased testing frequency from 2.4 to 3.0 tests per day. Testing frequency for non-insulin users remained the same at 1.5 tests per day. Testing frequency was essentially the same with the FreeStyle and the original meters. The average hemoglobin A1c was 7.4% (standard deviation 1.5%) initially, 7.3% (standard deviation 1.5%) at the crossover point, and 6.9% (standard deviation 1.1%) after 6 months. There was no significant difference in hemoglobin A1c measurements between meter types after 6 months. Thirteen months later a final hemoglobin A1c, testing frequency, and a questionnaire regarding meter preference and pain rating were obtained. Seventy-four percent of participants preferred the alternative-site meter, which was rated as significantly (p < .05) less painful. Testing frequency significantly improved (p = .001) while free strips were being provided. Testing frequency 13 months later was not significantly different from the baseline (p = .101). Hemoglobin A 1 c was significantly lower 6 months after the study began (p = .000) and 13 months later (p = .008) at baseline.

Submitted by Claudia Rocha (claudia.rocha@udesc.br) on 2018-02-16T11:12:33Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PGCA16MA187.pdf: 1684727 bytes, checksum: 5568c061fa23561e4110c551eb567400 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-02-16T11:12:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PGCA16MA187.pdf: 1684727 bytes, checksum: 5568c061fa23561e4110c551eb567400 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-19 / Capes / Chapter I: The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic effect of intraoperative and postoperative continuous infusion of ketamine in addition to their cardiovascular, blood gas and respiratory changes. 24 dogs were used, adult, with average weight and age of 19,2±10,1 kg and 8,5± 1,7 years, respectively. All animals were premedicated with 0,5 mg/kg of morphine and 0,02 mg/kg acepromazine by the IM route. Anesthesia was induced with propofol 4 mg/kg and maintenance of anesthesia with isoflurane 1 MAC, diluted in 100% oxygen, undergoing mechanical ventilation. Regarding analgesia during surgery the animals received after the induction, an initial bolus of fentanyl in a dose of 2,5 μg/kg by the IM route, followed by continuous infusion at the rate of 10 μg/Kg/h and then were divided into three groups: CP; received bonuses of ketamine at a dose of 2,5 mg/kg in the immediate postoperative and IC ketamine 10 μg/ kg/min in six hours postoperatively. The CTP; received bolus ketamine at a dose of 2,5 mg/kg after induction of anesthesia and IC ketamine 10 μg/ kg/min intraoperatively and ketamine 10 μg/ kg/min in six hours postoperative. And the SP; They received saline bolus after induction and in the immediate postoperative period, followed by saline IC in six hours postoperatively. Redemptions for analgesia, bradycardia and hypotension were performed with fentanyl, atropine and dobutamine, respectively. The surgical procedure was complete unilateral mastectomy, performed always by the same surgeon. Upon completion of the surgical procedure, all animals received meloxicam and morphine at a dose of 0,2 mg/kg and 0,5 mg/kg for IV and IM, respectively. The parameters were evaluated 10 minutes after induction of anesthesia (T0); 5 minutes after bolus injection of ketamine and / or fentanyl (T1); 15 minutes after bolus injection of ketamine and/or fentanyl (T2); After the skin incision (T3) and 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 minutes after the start of the continuous infusion treatments (T4; T5; T6, T7 and T8). Yet they were recorded the total time of surgery and time to extubation in minutes. For algic animals were evaluated by an evaluator, prior to surgery (M0), 1 (M1), 2 (M2), 4 (M4), 6 (M6), 8 (M8), 12 (M12) and 24 ( M24) hours postoperatively. Morphine dose 0,5 mg/kg by the IM route, was standardized for painkillers redemptions when a score higher or equal to six points was observed, with the help of Pain Scale Composed of Glasgow. The incidence of sedation was evaluated in the same moments of pain assessment through the Adapted Sedation Scale Saponaro, 2014. There was a decrease of FC in T8 in the CP and SP in relation to the CTP. The PAS increased in CTP T3 to T8 and SP from T3 to T7 when compared to the time T0. The CTP decreased in PaCO2 between T2 and T8, relative to T0. The Cl- was higher in the T2 CTP when compared to the SP and the SP greater compared to CTP. Regarding the used sedation scale, there was no statistical difference for the sub item appearance. As for the sub item behavioral interaction significant differences were observed in M0 to M1, M2 and M4 in CP in M1 for CTP and M1 and M2 for the SP. The strength of the analysis, statistical differences were observed from M1 to M24 to the CP, M1 and M2 for the CTP and between M1 and M24 for the SP in relation to the M0 moment. And the answer to palm the M8 time, the SP and CP differed from the CTP showed values similar to those seen in CP and SP. In relation to the total sum of points for GCMPS significant differences were observed in relation to M0 between M1 and M24 to the CP, from M1 to M12 in CTP and M1 to M6 for the SP, and the M24 when the CP showed values different to those observed in SP. The survival curve analysis showed no statistical difference for the perioperative rescue with dobutamine and postoperative morphine between groups, with only difference to the rescue with intraoperative fentanyl, where the CTP group did not need any rescue. Chapter II: The experimental design was carefully similar to Chapter I, but after surgery there was no groups of division or distribution of treatments and the animals were placed in a single group. Thus aimed to evaluate the application of postoperative analgesic redemptions through the correlation of the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale (GCMPS), Acute Pain Scale at the University of Colorado (EDAUC) and University of Melbourne Pain Scale (UMPS) in bitches submitted to unilateral mastectomy full. The algic of the animals was performed with the aid of VAS, EDAUC, UMPS and GCMPS by two assessors, experienced and not experienced before surgery (M0), 1 (M1), 2 (M2), 4 (M4) 6 (M6), 8 (M8), 12 (M12) and 24 (M24) hours postoperatively. The analgesic rescue were performed with morphine 0,5 mg/kg by the IM route, when at least two of scale present a score greater than or equal to 50, 2, 9 and 6 respectively, and when the score was observed only by experienced assessor. There was an increase in the total sum of points for M1 to M12 pain score for the experienced assessor (E) and for non-experienced (NE) for the VAS. In the analysis of EDAUC higher values compared to M0 were observed between M2 to M8 for E and M1 to M12 to the NE. In GCMPS, higher pain scores were observed between M1 to M24 for E and M1 to M12 to the NE. In the analysis of UMPS the increase in the total sum of points for pain scores were evident from M1 to M24 for E and NE. The best overall correlation was 0,775 between GCMPS and EDAUC and among evaluators was 0,925 for GCMPS. Chapter I: We conclude that continuous infusion of ketamine promotes adequate cardiorespiratory stability and hemogasometric provides excellent additional analgesia in the perioperative period, but the administration of meloxicam and morphine in the immediate postoperative masked postoperative analgesic effects of ketamine, did there were differences in the application of analgesic rescues with morphine, will be shown between groups. Chapter II: We conclude that the pain scale Consisting of Glasgow, was more sensitive to detect the need for postoperative analgesic rescue bitches submitted to unilateral mastectomy full, requiring no prior experience by the evaluators to painful assessment / Capitulo I: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito analgésico transoperatório e pós-operatório da infusão contínua de cetamina, além de suas alterações cardiovasculares, hemogasométricas e respiratórias. Foram utilizadas 24 cadelas, adultas, com peso e idade médio de 19,2±10,1 Kg e 8,5±1,7 anos, respectivamente. Todos os animais foram pré-medicados com 0,5 mg/Kg de morfina e 0,02 mg/Kg de acepromazina pela via IM. A indução foi realizada com propofol 4 mg/Kg e a manutenção da anestesia com isoflurano 1 CAM, diluído em 100% de oxigênio, submetidos a ventilação mecânica. Quanto à analgesia transoperatória os animais receberam após a indução, um bolus inicial de fentanil na dose de 2,5 μg/Kg, pela via IV seguido da infusão contínua na taxa de 10μg/Kg/h e em seguida foram alocados em três grupos: o CP; receberam bolus de cetamina na dose de 2,5 mg/Kg no pós operatório imediato e IC de cetamina 10μg/Kg/min em seis horas de pós-operatório. O CTP; receberam bolus de cetamina na dose de 2,5 mg/Kg após a indução da anestesia e IC de cetamina 10μg/Kg/min no transoperatório e cetamina 10μg/Kg/min em seis horas de pós-operatório. E o SP; receberam bolus de salina após a indução e no pós-operatório imediato, seguido da IC de salina em seis horas de pós-operatório. Os resgates para analgesia, bradicardia e hipotensão foram realizados com fentanil, atropina e dobutamina, respectivamente. O procedimento cirúrgico foi de mastectomia total unilateral, realizado sempre pelo mesmo cirurgião. Ao término do procedimento cirúrgico, todos os animais receberam meloxicam e morfina na dose de 0,2 mg/Kg e 0,5 mg/Kg pela via IV e IM, respectivamente. Os parâmetros foram avaliados 10 minutos após a indução anestésica (T0); 5 minutos após o bolus de cetamina e/ou fentanil (T1); 15 minutos após o bolus de cetamina e/ou fentanil (T2); após a incisão de pele (T3) e 30, 45, 60, 75 e 90 minutos após o início da infusão contínua dos tratamentos (T4; T5; T6; T7 e T8). Ainda foram contabilizados o tempo total do procedimento cirúrgico e o tempo para extubação em minutos. Para avalição álgica os animais foram avaliados por um avaliador, antes da cirurgia (M0), 1 (M1), 2 (M2), 4 (M4), 6 (M6), 8 (M8), 12 (M12) e 24 (M24) horas de pós-operatório. A morfina na dose 0,5 mg/Kg, pela via IM, foi padronizada para os resgates analgésicos quando uma pontuação maior ou igual a seis pontos fosse observada, com o auxílio da Escala de dor Composta de Glasgow. A ocorrência de sedação também foi avaliada, nos mesmos momentos da avaliação da dor, por meio da Escala de Sedação Adaptada de Saponaro, 2014. Houve diminuição da FC em T8 no CP e no SP em relação ao CTP. A PAS aumentou no CTP de T3 a T8 e no SP de T3 a T7 quando comparados ao momento T0. A PaCO2 diminuiu no CTP entre T2 e T8, em relação ao T0. O Cl- foi maior no T2 em CTP quando comparado ao SP e maior no SP em relação ao CTP. Em relação a escala de sedação utilizada, não houve diferença estatística para o sub item aparência. Já para o sub item interação comportamental diferenças significativas em relação a M0 foram observadas em M1, M2 e M4 no CP, em M1 para o CTP e em M1 e M2 para o SP. Na análise da resistência, diferenças estatísticas foram observadas de M1 a M24 para o CP, M1 e M2 para o CTP e entre M1 e M24 para o SP em relação ao momento M0. E para a resposta à palma no momento M8, o CP diferiu do SP e o CTP apresentou valores semelhantes aos observados em CP e SP. Em relação ao somatório total de pontos pela GCMPS foram observadas diferenças significativas em relação ao momento M0 entre M1 e M24 para o CP, de M1 a M12 no CTP e de M1 a M6 para o SP, sendo que no momento M24 o CP apresentou valores diferentes aos observados em SP. Na análise da curva de sobrevivência não houve diferença estatística para o resgate transoperatório com dobutamina e pós-operatório com morfina entre os grupos, havendo apenas diferença para o resgate transoperatório com fentanil, onde o grupo CTP não necessitou de nenhum resgate. Capítulo II: O delineamento experimental foi criteriosamente semelhante ao do capítulo I, porém no pós operatório não houve divisão de grupos ou distribuição de tratamentos e os animais foram alocados em um único grupo. Desta forma, objetivou-se avaliar o requerimento de resgates analgésicos pós-operatórios por meio da correlação das Escala Analógica Visual (EVA), Escala de dor Composta de Glasgow (GCMPS), Escala de dor Aguda da Universidade do Colorado (EDAUC) e Escala de dor da Universidade de Melbourne (UMPS) em cadelas submetidas à mastectomia total unilateral. A avaliação álgica dos animais foi realizada com o auxílio da EVA, EDAUC, UMPS e GCMPS por meio de dois avaliadores, experiente e não experiente antes da cirurgia (M0), 1 (M1), 2 (M2), 4 (M4), 6 (M6), 8 (M8), 12 (M12) e 24 (M24) horas de pós-operatório. Os resgates analgésicos foram realizados com morfina 0,5 mg/Kg, pela via IM, quando ao menos duas das escalas apresentassem uma pontuação maior ou igual a 50, 2, 9 e 6 pontos respectivamente, e quando esta pontuação fosse observada apenas pelo avaliador experiente. Houve aumento no somatório total de pontos para o escore de dor de M1 a M12 para o avaliador experiente (E) e para o não experiente (NE) para a EVA. Na análise da EDAUC valores maiores em relação a M0 foram observados entre M2 a M8 para o E e de M1 a M12 para o NE. Na GCMPS, maiores escores de dor foram observados entre M1 a M24 para o E e de M1 a M12 para o NE. Já na análise da UMPS o aumento do somatório total de pontos para os escores de dor foram evidenciados entre M1 a M24 para o E e NE. A melhor correlação geral foi de 0,775 entre a GCMPS e a EDAUC e entre os avaliadores foi de 0,925 para a GCMPS. Capítulo I: Conclui-se que a infusão contínua de cetamina promove adequada estabilidade cardiorrespiratória e hemogasométrica, proporciona excelente analgesia adicional no período transoperatório, porém a administração do meloxicam e da morfina no pós-operatório imediato mascarou os efeitos analgésicos pós-operatórios da cetamina, pois não houve diferença no requerimento de resgates analgésicos com morfina, neste período entre os grupos. Capítulo II: Conclui-se que a Escala de dor Composta de Glasgow, foi mais sensível para detectar a necessidade de resgate analgésico pós-operatório em cadelas submetidas à mastectomia total unilateral, não exigindo experiência prévia pelos avaliadores para avaliação dolorosa

Vem har nytta av en siffra?– En fallstudie av ett förbättringsarbete med syfte att förbättra och kvalitetssäkra smärtbehandling för palliativa patienter i regionsansluten specialiserad hemsjukvård.   Bakgrund: Palliativ vård, vård i livets slut, ändrar fokus från bot till lindring. Det viktigaste målet för palliativ vård är symtomlindring och smärta är det symtom som har störst betydelse för livskvalitet. Numeric Rating Symptom Scale, NRS, har visat sig underlätta utvärdering och kvalitetssäkring av smärtbehandling.   Syfte: Förbättringsarbetets mål var att förbättra smärtbehandlingen för inskrivna patienter. Studiens syfte har varit att hitta motiverande faktorer samt undersöka medarbetarnas upplevelse av förbättringsarbetet.   Metod: Nolans modell för förbättring och PDSA-hjul enligt Deming, fiskbensdiagram och 5p-kartläggning av mikrosystemet har använts i förbättringsprojektet. Både kvalitativa och kvantitativa data har inhämtats till studien av förbättringsarbetet. Intervjuer har utförts och analyserats med innehållsanalys.   Resultat: NRS fanns dokumenterat för utvärdering av smärtbehandling i 15 % av patientbesöken och enhetens medelvärde för NRS per vecka var 4 eller lägre. Studien visar att medarbetarna har kunskap om hur NRS ska användas och mäta men att förståelse för varför och för vem skull detta är viktigt saknas.   Slutsats:Deltagande i detta förbättringsarbete har ökat kunskapen bland medarbetarna. Diskussioner visar på ett skifte från individ till system och en förflyttning av fokus mot patientens behov och involvering samt förståelse för målet med vård utförd av arbetsplatsen. / Does the number count? – A case study of an improvement project focusing pain management routine in specialized palliative care.   Background:Palliative care, end-of-life care, change focus from cure to comfort, ease and relieve symptoms. Management of symptoms are important palliative care and pain have a big effect on patient’s quality of life. Numeric Rate Symptom Scale, NRS, have proved to help medical units to evaluate pain management.   Purpose:  The aim of the improvement work was to improve pain management routine for patients. The purpose of the study was to find motivating factors and to find how employees ‘experiences the improvement initiative.    Method: Nolan´s model of improvement with PDSA cycles from Deming, Ishikawa diagram and description of micro system 5p wereused for the improvement project. The study was based on a qualitative and quantitative data collections. The interviews were analysed by content analysis.    Results:NRS are used in 15 % of evaluation of pain management and the average NRS where 4 or less. Data from the study shows knowledge among employees´about how to use NRS and what NRS is made to display but lack knowlegde of why and for whom.   Conclusions: This project created common learning through participation in the improvement project. Focus are starting to change and more discussions shifting from individual to system level about patient involvement and consensus on aim of care.

No description available.

The main aim of the presented diploma thesis was to record objective and subjective changes after therapy with DNS concept in a group of 13 people with LBP. Moiré projection topography was used to record postural changes after 5.5 week therapeutic intervention. It was not clear, whether DNS exercise would help them to achieve visible postural changes and whether this technique is able to record these changes, which would mean that it is a suitable option for objectivisation of therapies focusing on correction of stabilisation and postural functions. Pedoscan was used for further objectivisation of the effect of DNS concept. The chosen correlate of the mentioned objective evaluation was Oswestry disability index, evaluating limitations of common everyday activities resulting from pain in the lower back, and the Numeric pain scale. Patients underwent 5 hour-long physiotherapeutic lessons, the recommended frequency of exercises in the household environment was 3-4 times per day. The probands exercised with the use of DNS concept according to the individual examination findings, especially in the area of the integrated spine stabilisation system. The data were statistically elaborated by Wilcoxon Signed-Rand test, which a non-parametric variant of the pair T-test. It is obvious from the results that...