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Updated: Jun 12, 2026
09:38
Determining Pain Detection and Tolerance Thresholds Using an Integrated, Multi-Modal Pain Task Battery
Published on: April 14, 2016
Addressing patients' concerns about pain management and addiction risks
Joy R Goebel1, Cathy D Sherbourne, Steven M Asch
1Department of Nursing, California State University, Long Beach, California 90840-0201, USA. jgoebel@csulb.edu
Summary
Healthcare professionals are more likely to address patient fears about pain medication addiction if they have more experience and confidence. Improving staff training and retention can enhance pain management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare
- Nursing
- Pain Management
Background:
- Fear of addiction is a significant barrier to effective pain management for both patients and providers.
- Addressing patient concerns about pain medication's addictive potential is crucial in clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate nursing staff practices in addressing patient fears regarding pain medication addiction.
- To identify factors influencing healthcare professionals' likelihood of discussing addiction risks with patients.
Main Methods:
- A clinical scenario survey was administered to 145 Veterans Health Administration nursing staff across eight ambulatory care sites.
- Statistical analysis, including odds ratios, was used to identify variables associated with addressing addiction concerns.
Main Results:
- 66% of nursing staff reported being very likely to address addiction concerns.
- Health technicians were less likely to address these concerns compared to registered or licensed vocational nurses (OR 0.116).
- Increased nursing staff experience (OR 1.070) and higher self-efficacy (OR 1.380) were linked to a greater likelihood of addressing addiction fears.
Conclusions:
- Nursing staff experience and confidence significantly influence their approach to discussing addiction risks.
- Targeted interventions should focus on retaining experienced staff and enhancing the skills and confidence of less experienced personnel to improve pain management.
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