Introducing a Visual Indicator on Patient-Controlled Analgesia Pumps
Mentor 1
W. Hobart Davies
Start Date
29-4-2022 11:00 AM
Description
There has been a lack of research investigating the effects of stress on caregivers of children who have chronic illnesses. In the present study, children hospitalized after a major surgery utilize a patient-controlled analgesia machine (PCA). This is a medical device that allows the patient to self-administer a preset dose of medication, delivered through a small tube connected to the body, with a push of a button after a predetermined time. The study aims to determine the utility of a light indicator on the PCA machine when the next dose of medication is available. We are also interested in seeing if adding the visual indicator could instigate opioid addiction. Children with a need for spinal fusion, pectus excavatum correction, or growth rods and their caregiver were eligible to participate. After surgery and hospitalization, the children and their caregivers were interviewed separately and asked questions pertaining to pain and the use of the PCA machine. Interviews were transcribed and coded. With the responses we received, we were looking for similarities between the caregiver’s observations of their child’s pain levels, use of the machine, and whether the caregivers thought the light was beneficial. Many caregivers believed that the light was beneficial and did not report PCA machine overuse by their child. Results suggest that the presence of a light can reduce anxiety related to waiting for the next dose medication to become available. Using PCA machines with visual signals can reduce patient anticipatory anxiety about pain by ensuring patient knowledge about upcoming medication doses.
Introducing a Visual Indicator on Patient-Controlled Analgesia Pumps
There has been a lack of research investigating the effects of stress on caregivers of children who have chronic illnesses. In the present study, children hospitalized after a major surgery utilize a patient-controlled analgesia machine (PCA). This is a medical device that allows the patient to self-administer a preset dose of medication, delivered through a small tube connected to the body, with a push of a button after a predetermined time. The study aims to determine the utility of a light indicator on the PCA machine when the next dose of medication is available. We are also interested in seeing if adding the visual indicator could instigate opioid addiction. Children with a need for spinal fusion, pectus excavatum correction, or growth rods and their caregiver were eligible to participate. After surgery and hospitalization, the children and their caregivers were interviewed separately and asked questions pertaining to pain and the use of the PCA machine. Interviews were transcribed and coded. With the responses we received, we were looking for similarities between the caregiver’s observations of their child’s pain levels, use of the machine, and whether the caregivers thought the light was beneficial. Many caregivers believed that the light was beneficial and did not report PCA machine overuse by their child. Results suggest that the presence of a light can reduce anxiety related to waiting for the next dose medication to become available. Using PCA machines with visual signals can reduce patient anticipatory anxiety about pain by ensuring patient knowledge about upcoming medication doses.
