Table 1 Components of the pain education intervention
Topics to be covered | Content |
|---|---|
Introductions | Participants (patient and carer) welcomed |
Introductions and clarifications as required | |
Leaflet provided and participants given time to read through | |
Overview of pain in HIV/AIDS | Pain defined in relation to HIV/AIDS |
Possible causes of pain in HIV/AIDS discussed | |
Characteristics of pain relating to HIV/AIDS | |
Beliefs and myths about pain in HIV/AIDS | Participants given opportunity to share beliefs about pain in relation to HIV/AIDS |
Where appropriate misconceptions dispelled | |
Beliefs and myths about pain medication | Ask the participants’ beliefs about use of pain medication |
Summarise and dispel misconceptions as required about pain medication | |
Assessment of pain in HIV/AIDS | Demonstrate with the help of body diagrams how to locate and describe pain |
Demonstrate use of pain assessment tools to rate and record pain | |
Demonstrate with pain diagrams how to classify pain | |
Explore type of pain experienced and strategies used to manage pain | |
Discuss ways in which pain may be managed more effectively | |
Pharmacological management of pain | Demonstrate, using the WHO analgesic ladder, how pain is managed with medications |
Give examples of available drugs used on the WHO ladder | |
Discuss most effective timing of pain medication | |
Non-pharmacological management of pain | Identify what non-pharmacological interventions participants are aware of and use |
Practical demonstrations on use of non-pharmacological interventions as appropriate | |
Other items to be covered | Participants given further opportunity to clarify any of the points discussed |
Participants encouraged to re-read the leaflet after the end of the face-to-face meeting and refer to it whenever the patient experiences pain | |
Advise participants to ask for clarification about the leaflet and its contents by sending a missed call to KN who will then return the call | |
Routine follow-up call at two weeks |