Descriptions of the Pain Experience in Adults and Adolescents with Cystic Fibrosis.
Sarah J Allgood, Sharon Kozachik, Kamila A Alexander and 3 others
PMID 29501357WHAT IT FOUND
People with cystic fibrosis described CF pain as distinct from ordinary pain.
Adults reported persistent pain, emotional pain, and stigma when asking for relief; adolescents reported episodic pain and feeling supported.
Key findings
01Participants distinguished CF-related pain from ordinary pain. Adolescents described episodic pain tied to events, while adults described pervasive pain that was hard to describe.
02Pain limited activities of daily living, school or work, and social or recreational activities. Some participants said severe pain kept them in bed.
03Adolescents said providers listened and helped with pain treatment. Adults said providers doubted their CF pain and they felt stigmatized asking for pain medication.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study interviewed 10 people with CF who had already reported moderate to severe pain, so it may not describe people with milder or less frequent pain. One participant withdrew before the interview after a lung transplant, so the interviewed group was smaller than the enrolled group. The work was done at one CF care center, and recruitment relied on a prior pain survey, which may limit how widely the themes apply. The study describes experiences and tested no pain intervention, so it cannot show what treatment helps. The authors note the evidence base is sparse and many citations are more than 5 years old.
Declared interests
The supplied metadata lists research support from a non-U.S. government source. No author conflict-of-interest statement appears in the article text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as proof that a pain treatment works or that all people with CF have severe pain. The study interviewed 10 patients selected for moderate to severe pain and tested no treatment.