Non pharmacological pain management in adults after surgery

Abstract

This study explored the effectiveness of non-drug pain relief techniques, including transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), massage therapy, guided imagery, music therapy, and cognitive behavioral approaches, with a particular focus on their integration into nursing practice. A qualitative literature review was conducted to systematically analyze existing research on non-pharmacological interventions for pain management in adult postoperative patients. Data were collected from peer-reviewed journal articles, and thematic analysis was used to categorize findings based on intervention type, effectiveness, nursing roles, and implementation challenges.

The findings indicate that non-pharmacological interventions effectively reduce postoperative pain, enhance patient comfort, and promote faster recovery when incorporated into multimodal pain management strategies. However, challenges such as limited healthcare provider training, time constraints, and patient skepticism hinder their widespread adoption. The study concludes that while pharmacological treatments remain essential, integrating non-pharmacological pain management into routine postoperative care can improve patient outcomes and reduce opioid dependency. Future research should focus on standardizing these interventions, enhancing healthcare provider training, and addressing barriers to implementation.