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Nurses Perspectives on Low-Dose Methadone for Pain in Nursing Homes: Semi-structured Interviews
Jennifer Holler O'Brien1, Caroline Baldwin2,3, Jenica Burns2
1University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Low-dose methadone (LDM) effectively manages chronic pain in nursing homes with minimal side effects. Nurses reported improved resident behavior and satisfaction, supporting LDM as a viable long-term opioid alternative.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Pain Management
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Chronic pain significantly impacts nursing home residents.
- Limited availability of safe, long-acting opioid analgesics presents a challenge.
- Low-dose methadone (LDM) shows promise as an alternative, but its use and staff perspectives are underreported.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate nurses' views on using LDM for pain management in nursing home residents.
- To identify potential benefits and barriers associated with LDM adoption in this setting.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study utilizing semi-structured interviews with nurses.
- Modified phenomenological approach applied to data analysis.
- Participants were nurses administering LDM (<10 mg/day) in nursing homes in Hawaii and British Columbia.
Main Results:
- Nurses found LDM effective for pain control, often succeeding where other opioids failed.
- Reported minimal side effects and observed positive impacts on resident behavior.
- Key themes included initial hesitancy, education's role, effectiveness, side effect profile, and administration pros/cons.
Conclusions:
- LDM is an effective and well-tolerated option for nursing home pain management.
- LDM offers benefits including improved resident behavior and nurse satisfaction.
- Further research is warranted to confirm LDM's utility in long-term care settings.
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