Perception of pain management by post operative total joint arthroplasty patients receiving preoperative pain management education

Pain is the most frequently used nursing diagnosis and consistently ranks high on the list of nursing's patient care problems. A recommended intervention for improving pain outcomes is education for patients and families about pain and its management.The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of patient education on pain for total joint arthroplasty patients. This study is designed to determine the benefit of a pain management program on patient's perceptions of the pain management program in an acute care facility.The Gate Control Theory will be used as the theoretical framework for this quasi-experimental study because it synthesizes the traditional pain theories and psychological aspects of pain. The sample will include 50 initial total hip and total knee arthroplasty patients from an accessiblepopulation of 115 in a 300-bed midwestern acute care facility over a six month period. The convenience sample will be alternately assigned to either the control or treatment group by sequential numbering on admission. Both groups will receive the traditional preoperative teaching. The experimental group will also receive a teaching program on pain management. The McGill Pain Questionnaire will measure postoperative pain.Patients will receive an invitation to participate in the study during a pre-operative visit to the acute care facility. A cover letter explaining the study outlining the voluntary nature of the study will be given to all patients. Responses collected will be confidential and the data will remain anonymous. No risks have been identified. Benefits include one-on-one patient education from a pain team nurse.School of NursingThesis (M.S.