Journal Critique on Pain 1

Running Head: JOURNAL CRITIQUE ON PAIN

Journal Critique on Pain

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Journal Critique on Pain

What a Nurse Can Do without Doctor’s Help for a Patient Experiencing Pain

Florence Nightingale introduced and revolutionized the Nursing profession in the modern era.

Their importance can be judged by nurses’ role in the two World Wars when they efficiently

managed hastily built hospitals to supervise patients. Accounts of that era describe the chaos

and confusion that reigned supreme and how nurses diligently dedicated themselves to their

duties even when hospitals were being bombed. These and several other instances question

the role of Nurses in the current Medical context and emphasize that they should be elevated

to equal status with doctors.

Summary of the Article - Kwekkeboom, K. L.; Gretarsdottir, Elfa. (2006). Systematic

Review of Relaxation Interventions for Pain. Journal of Nursing Scholarship. Volume 38,

Number 3, p. 269-277. Sigma Theta Tau International.

Relaxation is defined as a state of relative freedom from both anxiety and skeletal muscle

tension, manifested as calmness, peacefulness, and being at ease. Relaxation techniques have

long been practiced for various health-related purposes, and recent national surveys have

shown an increase in the use of relaxation.

The purpose of this review is randomized trials of relaxation interventions used for the

treatment of pain in adults and to synthesize evidence regarding the efficacy of specific

techniques.

The research is designed as an integrative review. A literature search was conducted using the

terms “relaxation” and “pain” in CINAHL, Medline, and PsychInfo from 1996 to March

2005. Studies were reviewed and categorized based on the type of relaxation intervention
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(progressive muscle relaxation [PMR], autogenic training, jaw relaxation, rhythmic

breathing, and other relaxation exercises), and summarized with respect to various study

characteristics and results.

Researchers reported support for relaxation interventions in 8 of the 15 studies reviewed. The

most frequently supported technique was progressive muscle relaxation, particularly for

arthritis pain. Investigators reported support for jaw relaxation and a systematic relaxation

intervention for relieving postoperative pain. Little evidence was found for autogenic

training, and no support for rhythmic breathing or other relaxation techniques.

Personal Views about the Article

Most of the studies reviewed had weaknesses in methodology, which limited the ability to

draw conclusions about interventions. Further research is needed to confirm positive findings

related to PMR, jaw relaxation, and systematic relaxation, to address questions related to the

dose-response relationship and the individual differences that might influence response to

relaxation interventions. These and other relaxation techniques require testing in carefully

designed and conducted trials.

More studies are needed on the topic and especially on these alternate interventions and their

hypothetical and real result on the patient.

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Reference

Kwekkeboom, K. L.; Gretarsdottir, Elfa. (2006). Systematic Review of Relaxation

Interventions for Pain. Journal of Nursing Scholarship. Volume 38, Number 3, p. 269-

277. Sigma Theta Tau International.