Narrative Review of Pain Management Among U.S. College Students

The purpose of this narrative review was to determine the gaps in the literature on pain management among college students.

Data Sources: Based on the expectation of limited research on pain management among this population, this review included three search terms: pain management, college students, and the United States. Non-college young adults, student athletes, and studies prior to 2018 were excluded.

The initial search yielded 245 articles. Exclusionary criteria and review reduced the sample to 12 articles.

The results highlight the diverse surveys used to measure various pain outcomes among varying samples with limited perspectives from minority populations. Four themes were noted among the final 12 articles: disrupted social interactions, coinciding anxiety and depression, substance misuse, and pain interventions.

There are significant gaps in the literature on pain among U.S. college students related to access to pain management resources and measuring pain as a health outcome, especially among minority populations.

For nurses, when evaluating a college students' pain, obtaining a thorough and accurate history of their pain and substance use is critical for appropriate pain management treatment.