Table 5.
Use of pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions by the intervention and control groups.
| Intervention group (n = 44) | Control group (n = 38) | Group difference | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline | Postintervention | P value# | Baseline | Postintervention | P value# | Baseline | Postintervention | |
| n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | P value# | P value# | |||
| Use of analgesics | 16 (36.4) | 17 (38.6) | 0.000∗ | 19 (50) | 18 (47.4) | 0.001∗ | 0.087 | 0.272 |
| Types of analgesics used (multiple answers can be chosen) | 0.513 | 0.714 | ||||||
| Panadol | 13 (29.5) | 14 (31.8) | 0.000∗ | 12 (31.6) | 15 (39.5) | 0.088 | ||
| Tramadol | 1 (2.3) | 3 (6.8) | 2 (5.3) | 1 (2.6) | ||||
| Others | 2 (4.5) | 0 (0) | 5 (13.2) | 2 (5.3) | ||||
| Frequency (prescription on PRN) | 0.000∗ | 0.010∗ | 0.629 | 0.767 | ||||
| Once daily | 3 (6.8) | 5 (11.4) | 7 (18.4) | 7 (18.4) | ||||
| Twice daily | 4 (9.1) | 6 (13.6) | 5 (13.2) | 4 (10.5) | ||||
| TDS | 4 (9.1) | 3 (6.8) | 5 (13.2) | 2 (5.3) | ||||
| QID | 5 (11.4) | 2 (4.5) | 0 (0) | 5 (13.2) | ||||
| Q4H | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (2.6) | 0 (0) | ||||
| Q6H | 1 (2.3) | 0 (0) | 1 (2.6) | 0 (0) | ||||
| Use of nonpharmacological interventions | 37 (84.1) | 44 (100) | — | 28 (73.7) | 37 (97.4) | 0.090 | 0.731 | — |
| Reasons for not using nonpharmacological interventions (multiple answers can be chosen) | ||||||||
| Do not know enough about nonpharmacological interventions | 4 (9.1) | 0 (0) | — | 6 (15.8) | 0 (0) | — | — | — |
| No medical/nursing staff have introduced such interventions | 2 (4.5) | 0 (0) | — | 3 (7.9) | 1 (2.6) | — | — | — |
| Do not believe this is an effective method of pain relief | 2 (4.5) | 0 (0) | — | 2 (5.3) | 0 (0) | — | — | — |
| No nursing staff to carry out the interventions | 1 (2.3) | 0 (0) | — | 1 (2.6) | 0 (0) | — | — | — |
| No facilities to carry out the interventions | 1 (2.3) | 0 (0) | — | 1 (2.6) | 0 (0) | — | — | — |
| Types of nonpharmacological interventions used (multiple answers can be chosen) | ||||||||
| Aromatherapy | 0 (0) | 37 (84.1) | — | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | — | — | — |
| Analgesic balm/oil | 31 (70.5) | 34 (77.3) | — | 24 (63.2) | 32 (84.2) | — | — | — |
| Massage | 14 (31.8) | 17 (38.6) | — | 7 (18.4) | 9 (23.7) | — | — | — |
| Hot pad | 2 (4.5) | 0 (0) | — | 11 (28.9) | 0 (0) | — | — | — |
| Resting in bed | 2 (4.5) | 0 (0) | — | 7 (18.4) | 2 (5.3) | — | — | — |
| Watching television | 2 (4.5) | 0 (0) | — | 6 (15.8) | 0 (0) | — | — | — |
| Cold pad | 1 (2.3) | 0 (0) | — | 3 (7.9) | 0 (0) | — | — | — |
| Chatting | 1 (2.3) | 0 (0) | — | 2 (5.3) | 0 (0) | — | — | — |
| Listening to music | 0 (0) | 1 (2.3) | — | 1 (2.6) | 0 (0) | — | — | — |
| Mediation | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | — | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | — | — | — |
| Deep breathing | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | — | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | — | — | — |
| Others | 14 (31.8) | 0 (0) | — | 4 (10.5) | 6 (15.8) | — | — | — |
| Participants' perceptions of the effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions | 28 (63.6) | 38 (86.4) | 0.008∗ | 22 (57.9) | 35 (92.1) | 0.296 | 0.380 | 0.168 |
Percentages may not add up to 100% because of rounding.
#The Chi-square test was used.
*A P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.