Ms Kathryn James¹, Mr Stuart Andrews², Ms Kim Bowen²

¹Murdoch University, , Australia, ²Burns Service of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

Abstract:

Rapid Induction Analgesia for Burn Pain Management: An Implementation Project.

Kate James – Murdoch University
Stuart Andrews – WA State Burns Service
Kim Bowen – WA State Burns Service

Despite the evidence for the use of rapid induction analgesia (RIA – a hypnotic induction) for burn wound dressing pain, it has not been implemented as standard practice on burns units. The researchers conceived that creating a recording and asking nurses to administer it could make this treatment accessible to patients.

A clinical trial was conducted with the WA State Burns Service to test RIA for pain during burn wound dressing changes. Patients in a RIA group were given the recording and a control group received treatment as usual. The RIA group experienced greater pain and anxiety improvements compared to the control group. Practice was found to enhance the benefits.
The recording was implemented as standard practice on the ward. Audits revealed that approximately half of the eligible patients were being offered the recording and, of these, approximately one quarter accepted and used the recording during dressing changes.

The implementation team – nurse unit manager Kim Bowen, senior clinical psychologist Stuart Andrews and researcher Kate James will report on the implementation process and outcomes and consider the implications for future endeavours that seek to embed psychological treatments into medical protocols.

Biography:

Kate is a psychologist and researcher with a special interest in the implementation of hypnosis and other psychological approaches to treating pain in health care settings. She currently works in private practice.