Ambulance nurse's experience to relieve pain in patients with addiction problems in Sweden

Pain is a personal and subjective experience. Prehospital emergency nurses (PEN) should work on the basis that all people are equal and entitled to the same care regardless of gender, age, disability or social status. The objective of treatment in health care is that all the pain to be alleviated. People with addiction problems often seek emergency care and pain is a frequent symptom. Research shows that medical staff often under treats pain and treat patients with addiction differently.

To describe PENSs' experiences of relieving pain in patients with addiction problems, otherwise called Substance Abuse Syndrome.

The study is designed with a qualitative approach with semistructured interviews. Eight PENs were interviewed and the material was analyzed according to a manifest content analysis.

The study's main finding is that the PENs wanted to give all patients equal care but often experienced uncertainty in the care of addicts. Many of the perceived emotions created a doubt in what situations would be resolved. Lack of information and knowledge about addiction and their own feelings and values of addicts made it difficult to decide what was right or wrong treatment. The difficulty was further increased when the unclear guidelines and lack of support meant that the treatment still perceived to be different.

Pain management of patients with drug addiction can be characterized as a complex task that requires a high level of skill. PENs often encounter this population in their work. Several factors lead to their experiencing these care situations as difficult to manage. Treatment guidelines are perceived as unclear and giving weak support as to how patients with addiction and pain should be treated. To handle this, PEN sought support in their decision-making from colleagues in ambulance care and the Emergency Department. Their conclusion was that treatment would be different every time, and that patients with addiction and pain were all treated differently. Despite advances in treatment options, patients will continue to be under-treated. Unfortunately, it is not just better knowledge of pain physiology and pharmacology that is the solution. Knowledge about and attitudes to pain and addiction must be corrected before any behaviour can be changed. The results of this study will hopefully make knowledge more nuanced and raise awareness of shortcomings in order to optimize care and treatment in the prehospital environment.