Pain Assessment Tools Used When Caring Through Cultural Boundaries : A Qualitative Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Caring through cultural boundaries in pain assessment is multidimensional. Ineffectual pain assessment would result in deficient pain management, which would have negative impacts on the clients’ wellbeing. The aim of this study is to explore cultural boundaries in pain assessment between patient and nurse, and how the nurse uses pain assessment tools. This is a qualitative systematic literature review. In the theoretical background, the concepts of cultural boundaries, pain, and communication significant for this study will be presented. Orlando’s Nursing Process Theory and Campinha-Bacote’s Model of Cultural Competence will form the theoretical framework. The study indicates that there are cultural differences in responses to pain. Through striving the knowledge of cultural competence, a nurse would be able to choose proper pain assessment tools for cultural sensitive pain assessment when caring through cultural boundaries.