Marissa Rose
Alternative Pain Therapies and Their
Effectiveness in Previously Medicated
Surgical Patients

SchoolTrinity High School • Garfield Heights, Ohio

ProgramNursing Internship

MentorGay Pawlak, RNC, BSN

DepartmentOrthopaedics, Marymount

Research: Alternative Pain Therapies and Their Effectiveness in Previously Medicated Surgical Patients

Hypothesis: This study assessed effectiveness of alternative pain therapies such as music therapy in reducing pain of previously medicated surgical patients. The hypothesis was that if a patient is receptive to the music, they will experience pain relief.

Methodology: Patients were assessed using the 0800 pain scale vital sign. The time of administered medication was documented along with the type of medication, and patients were re-assessed one hour after medication. Alternative pain therapy was offered if the patient was experiencing any pain, and patient pain was re-assessed one hour after alternative therapy.

Outcomes: Three out of six patients did not receive pain relief after they were medicated. One of these three patients who did not have pain relief agreed to the alternative method and experienced significant pain relief. There was limited access to willing and able patients as a result of hospital visitors and sleeping patients. Recommendations for further studies would include using different types of alternative pain therapies, along with a larger sample size. These preliminary results show that music therapy can be effective in a hospital setting.