Kontakt 2016, 18(1):e22-e29 | DOI: 10.1016/j.kontakt.2015.12.001

Non-pharmacological interventions for pain management used by nursing students in TurkeyNursing - Original article

Neziha Karabulut^a,*, Dilek Gürçayir^a, Yeşim Yaman Aktaş^b

^a Atatürk University, The Faculty of The Health Sciences, Department of Surgical Nursing, Erzurum, Turkey

^b Giresun University, The Faculty of The Health Sciences, Department of Surgical Nursing, Giresun, Turkey

Aim: The use of non-pharmacological techniques for pain relief is increasing among nursing students, because pain is a significant problem that affects the quality of life and everyday activities. The aim of this study was to examine the types of pain experienced by nursing students and the non-pharmacological methods they used to relieve them in Eastern Turkey.

Methods: A descriptive survey design was used. This study was carried out in the nursing department of Atatürk University in Erzurum, Turkey. The sampling consisted of 388 students who agreed to participate in the research in the 2010-2011 academic spring term. The data was collected using a questionnaire, which included the demographics of nursing students, questions regarding the types of pain experienced by the students, and the non-pharmacological methods they used in pain control.

Results: Of the 388 students surveyed, 92% experienced pain and 69.1% experienced mostly gastrointestinal symptoms. The types of pain experienced by the students were back and waist (59.3%), throat (45.6%), dysmenorrhoea (44.6%), toothache (41%), neck (33.5%), and tension headaches (33%). The non-pharmacological methods most frequently used were heat application, resting in a dark room, massage, drinking hot herbal beverages, and cold application.

Conclusion: Our conclusion is that students frequently use non-pharmacological interventions. Therefore the nursing education curriculum should include updated information about the use of non-pharmacological interventions and their usefulness.

Keywords: Nursing students; Non-pharmacological methods; Pain; Pain management

Received: August 27, 2015; Revised: November 4, 2015; Accepted: December 9, 2015; Published: March 29, 2016  Show citation