How effective are non-pharmacological treatments for relieving pain in people with dementia? A joint study by universities in Taiwan, Indonesia, and Vietnam has found surprising results.
Although people with dementia often experience pain, it frequently goes untreated. In addition to traditional treatment with pain relievers, non-pharmacological interventions are also available. When affected individuals receive treatment without medication, questions often arise regarding the effectiveness of the pain management.
Researchers from a total of four universities in Taiwan, Indonesia, and Vietnam have now found: Four to eight weeks after pain treatment, the pain had been reduced. The review analyzed 12 studies with a total of 989 people with dementia. The work was published in August 2023 in Journal of Clinical Nursing.
The focus was on treatment options such as aromatherapy, playful activities, singing, or care with the help of a robot. The exact effectiveness and also how often the interventions should be used have not yet been sufficiently investigated, according to the researchers.
Significant for clinical practice
Nevertheless, the study results are particularly significant for clinical practice, as they can serve as a guide for doctors when considering non-pharmacological pain management. Furthermore, treatment methods in daily clinical practice could be improved.
Even though the study lacks long-term data, the researchers recommend considering pain treatment without medication. Accordingly, depending on the patient's health status and clinical standards, practitioners can offer this form of pain relief, categorized by type, duration, and also the length of aftercare.
Tip for practice: Non-drug treatment options for pain relief are well-suited as low-side-effect supplements to conventional pain therapy.
Here's the summary of the study:
