Veterans and Pain: Taking Control with SMART Goals

The United States is currently experiencing an opioid overdose and dependence crisis. The amount of opioid prescriptions prescribed in the U.S has quadrupled since 1999. The veteran population is an especially vulnerable population. Finding alternative treatment options to decrease prescription opioid use in the veteran population is imperative to decrease the number of deaths associated with opioids. The intervention for this DNP Project included developing patient specific SMART goals and encouraging veteran patients to achieve those goals. A pre/post questionnaire measuring patients overall pain rating was collected. Due to the small sample size and time frame in which the project was completed statistical significance was not achieved. However, there was clinical significance that contributed to the body of knowledge. Establishing patient specific SMART goals reduces pain, improves self- efficacy and enhances the patient-provider relationship. The project continues to encourage the provider and clinical staff to develop SMART goals as an adjuvant therapy for the management of pain