Developing a non-pharmacological pain management toolkit in nursing homes using a structured evidence-generation approach.

Authors

Daniela Schoberer, Eva Pichler, Doris Eglseer, Manuela Hoedl

Published in

Zeitschrift fur Evidenz, Fortbildung und Qualitat im Gesundheitswesen. Jun 23, 2026. Epub Jun 23, 2026.

Abstract

Pain is a prevalent issue in nursing home residents. Despite the importance of non-pharmacological interventions, they are underused compared to pharmacological treatments, and the respective evidence-based guidelines have hardly been implemented in daily practice. This study was carried out to collaboratively develop a practical, user-friendly toolkit with evidence-based non-pharmacological pain management interventions for improving care for nursing home residents in pain.
The toolkit was developed following a systematic approach and including nursing staff from the onset. The aim was to (1) identify relevant interventions, and (2) synthesise the current evidence using up-to-date evidence summaries or rapid reviews.
A list of 50 non-pharmacological interventions was compiled, and the 17 interventions receiving the highest ratings from nursing staff were further investigated and included in the toolkit. Evidence summaries were available for 14 interventions, and rapid reviews were conducted for five interventions. For example, empathetic support slightly reduced pain, while results for aromatherapy were inconsistent. Neck and back pain were alleviated by positioning special pillows for residents.
The toolkit developed offers practical and comprehensive non-pharmacological pain management interventions to be used in nursing homes. By combining existing evidence and conducting rapid reviews, 17 key interventions could be evaluated. Although the quality of evidence for these interventions varies, the toolkit can be used to enhance individualised, patient-centred care, supporting a holistic approach to pain management along with pharmacological treatments. This article outlines the collaborative creation of an evidence-based toolkit designed for non-pharmacological pain management in nursing homes. The toolkit can assist nursing staff with selecting and implementing appropriate non-pharmacological interventions, complementing pharmacological treatments and tailoring interventions to the specific type of pain and individual residents' preferences.

PMID:
42336733
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 24 Jun 2026.

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