Pain Management in Patients with Heart Failure: A Survey of Nurses' Perception

Over 50% of patients with heart failure (HF) report suffering from pain and pain-related burdens; however, pain in HF patients has not been recognized or well treated. Few studies have comprehensively examined pain management in patients with HF from nurses' perception.

To investigate nurses' perception of pain management in HF patients.

Members of American Association of Heart Failure Nurses (AAHFN) were invited to participate in a cross-sectional online survey.

A total of 147 nurses responded and completed the survey. The majority agreed that pain in HF patients was related to anxiety, depression, fatigue, and unplanned hospitalization, and that pain should be individually assessed and managed. More than 80% thought pain management practice in HF patients should be improved, and 78.1% were interested in getting more information and believed an online education module was the most preferable approach. Lack of pain assessment tools, drug addiction, side effect, overuse, underuse, and contraindication with other medications were the main concerns regarding opioid use in pain management in HF. The gaps in pain management in HF patients included lack of knowledge of opioid use, lack of consideration and awareness of pain, no clinical guidelines for pain assessment and treatment, and complicated pain management with multiple chronic conditions.

The impact of pain and need for individual assessment and management of pain in HF patients were perceived by nurses; improvement in pain management practice in HF patients is needed. Concerns regarding opioid use and gaps in pain management of HF patients should be addressed.