Nurses' Barriers in Pain Management for Older Adults
Kapuruhamige, Deepthi; Silva, Agampodi (2026)
2026
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202604025582
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202604025582
Tiivistelmä
The purpose of the study was to describe nurses’ barriers in pain management for older adults. The aim was to produce new knowledge about the barriers nurses face when managing pain in older adults. This study was intended to explain the barriers nurses experience when managing pain in older adults and how these barriers influence the effectiveness of pain management.
The literature review was performed in the form of a descriptive analysis based on the PICO framework and used to organize the search and select the studies. Relevant and high-quality literature was considered only as clear and consistent inclusion and exclusion criteria were used. Data were collected from primary articles published between 2015 and 2025 in the CINAHL and PubMed databases. Ten(10) studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results were divided into two main themes: complex multilevel barriers to pain management in older adults and the negative impact of nursing barriers on the effectiveness of pain management in older adults. The primary barriers were patient and family-related assumptions and resistance, organizational and workplace restrictions, gaps in knowledge and competence as a professional, communication and cognitive issues, and systemic inequities. Such barriers had a negative impact on the accuracy of pain assessment, the effective-ness of the treatment process, continuity in the process of care, and patient outcomes.
The findings identified that understaffing, lack of training, insufficient assessment instruments, and misconceptions of various cultures were some of the factors that con-tributed to underassessment and undertreatment of pain in older adults. The research found that multimodal interventions are required to improve pain management among older adults, comprising continuing education, organizational support, culturally sensitive care, and better assessment practices. Addressing these barriers may improve patient safety, quality of care, and nurses’ professional confidence.
The literature review was performed in the form of a descriptive analysis based on the PICO framework and used to organize the search and select the studies. Relevant and high-quality literature was considered only as clear and consistent inclusion and exclusion criteria were used. Data were collected from primary articles published between 2015 and 2025 in the CINAHL and PubMed databases. Ten(10) studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results were divided into two main themes: complex multilevel barriers to pain management in older adults and the negative impact of nursing barriers on the effectiveness of pain management in older adults. The primary barriers were patient and family-related assumptions and resistance, organizational and workplace restrictions, gaps in knowledge and competence as a professional, communication and cognitive issues, and systemic inequities. Such barriers had a negative impact on the accuracy of pain assessment, the effective-ness of the treatment process, continuity in the process of care, and patient outcomes.
The findings identified that understaffing, lack of training, insufficient assessment instruments, and misconceptions of various cultures were some of the factors that con-tributed to underassessment and undertreatment of pain in older adults. The research found that multimodal interventions are required to improve pain management among older adults, comprising continuing education, organizational support, culturally sensitive care, and better assessment practices. Addressing these barriers may improve patient safety, quality of care, and nurses’ professional confidence.