Non-Medication Pain Management Methods in Palliative Care

Abstract

Topic: Non-Medication Pain Management Methods in Palliative Care: A Scoping Review Aim: To identify the non-medication pain management methods that are used in palliative care, developing a list of feasible and effective techniques grouped under different categories that are useful in complementing pharmacological pain management methods for patients under palliative care. Methods: A scoping review employing the PRISMA framework and Arksey and O'Malley scoping review process, resulting in 12 critically appraised sources. Results: The research identified non-medication pain management methods used in palliative care and grouped them into four categories: physiotherapy-based interventions, psychosocial interventions, environmental interventions, and spiritual interventions. The physiotherapy-based interventions include physical therapy practices, movement-based therapy practices, and electro/thermal therapy practices. Psychosocial interventions include mind-body, expressive and supportive techniques. The environmental intervention is virtual reality, and the spiritual intervention is seeking prayer and spiritual services. Conclusion: The research findings show that pain management in palliative care is not one-dimensional, as it stems from more than just the physical or biological pain caused by the disease. The findings underscore the importance of embracing the biopsychological model when managing pain, because this assists physicians and care providers to extend beyond the biological elements of a patient’s health, considering the social, psychological, spiritual and physical aspects as well. This study has provided several non-medication interventions that address these dimensions in pain management; physiotherapy-based interventions, psychosocial interventions, environmental interventions, and spiritual interventions, providing accompanying techniques that can supplement pharmacological approaches.