Pain & Culture Concepts PDF

Pain & Culture Concepts By A. Prof. Dr. Fatma Khalil Assistant Professor of Gerontology  Pain Pain is a universally recognized phenomenon. Pain is a very private experience and is influenced by cultural heritage. ‫تراث ثقافى‬ Pain is subjective ‫ & ش...

Pain & Culture Concepts By A. Prof. Dr. Fatma Khalil Assistant Professor of Gerontology  Pain Pain is a universally recognized phenomenon. Pain is a very private experience and is influenced by cultural heritage. ‫تراث ثقافى‬ Pain is subjective ‫ & شخصى او ذاتى‬multidimensional and the most frequent compelling reason for seeking health care. Definition of Pain Definition is diverse because of its complex nature, its uniqueness to complex nature, and because of the many different perspectives on pain. The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain as "An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, actual or potential tissue damage  Most hospitalized patients experience pain at some point during their stay and healthcare professionals should be aware and understanding of culture which is critical when dealing with clients in pain. Thus, expectations, manifestations, and management of pain are embedded in a cultural context.  The role of the nurses influences with culture, especially cultural patterns of individuals to provide culturally adequate pain management. It is often difficult to be knowledgeable about all the possible cultural norms of patients. However, it is important to be alert to the verbal and non-verbal cues of the patient. Be aware of your own cultural uniqueness and seek to accept the distinct perspectives of others. A careful approach to the patient in these instances will often set the stage for successful pain management.  Pain intensity refers to the level of perceived pain experienced by an individual, typically measured on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 represents no pain and 10 represents the most severe pain imaginable. Examples of Pain assessment tools Pain scales  Pain Perception Pain intensity variation may be affected by the differences in attitudes, beliefs, and emotional and psychological states associated with different ethnic groups. Higher levels of ethnic identification were associated in one study with greater pain sensitivity among African and Hispanic groups. Pain is influenced by many factors Biological factors. Social factors. Psychological factors. Cultural factors. Environmental factors. Spiritual, and other factors. Culture and Pain Involving not only the sensation of pain but also the emotional experience associated with pain, and it does not have to be related to observable tissue damage or have a detectable underlying cause. Culture of pain and culture in pain The culture of pain describes the ways in which society shapes the meaning and treatment of pain. Culture in pain addresses the ways in which culture affects individuals’ perception and expression of pain, and their coping response,  The patient’s culture can shape his/her ideas of what constitutes illness as well as acceptable treatment. In many ethnic groups, as African- Americans tend to use more praying, hoping, and emotional coping strategies in pain, compared to Caucasians who tend to more ignore the pain and prefer relaxation techniques, or yoga, as a self- management.  Race, Ethnicity, and Pain ❑Ethnicity: A group identity based on culture, language, religion, or a common attachment to a place or kin ties. ❑Race has been an especially important factor in the experience and treatment of pain, race refers to a person’s physical characteristics, such as bone structure, skin, hair, and color. ❑Racial groups: Varied in their physiological experiences to pain, Examples: Women, whites, and the rich being more sensitive to pain than African Americans, criminals, and Native Americans  Factors Affecting Pain Experience 1. Gender (men demonstrate greater stoicism than women). 2. Age (children vary more than adults in pain tolerance 3. Generation 4. level of acculturation (is the process or incorporating values, beliefs, and behaviors from the host culture into the immigrants' cultural worldview). 5. Socioeconomic status (including income, occupation, and education), 6. levels of ties to the mother country, Factors Affecting Pain Experience 7- Primary language spoken at home, 8- Degree of isolation of the individual, and residence in neighborhoods made up of one’s ethnic group. These factors may mediate the relationship between ethnic background and pain. Those factors account for differences in pain tolerance among humans.  Ways for Expression of Pain Pain is expressed Verbally and Non-verbally. Common culturally-based barriers to communication about pain Fatalism ‫(القدر‬it doesn’t matter what I chose). Fears of addiction (some Asian patients are particularly wary of opioids). Desire to be “ a good patient “ ( not complaining). Desire not to burden the provider by talking about pain. Fear that using analgesics will mask the true source of a problem or important symptoms. Fear of harm to the immune system. Belief that if a medication isn’t blessed by a healer, it won’t work  Some Cultural Issues Expressions of pain vary from culture to culture. People from different cultures experience pain largely based on their meaning of pain. People’s practices according to the appropriate verbal behavior and body language in response to pain are dictated by culture(ex: Japanese culture does not approve of loud verbal expressions of pain). Army forces (Trained to able to withstand of pain during battles)  Some Cultural Issues Religious and spiritual beliefs influence pain management sometimes people believe that opioid substances or intravenous medication is forbidden in their religious belief and might reject medical or surgical pain interventions. Research has found that the majority of patients with chronic pain use religious and/or spiritual forms such as prayer and spiritual support for coping with their pain.  Athletes individuals (may be able to withstand or ignore pain while engaged in a sport).