Opioids are often used as a primary intervention for post-operative pain management. Opioids are highly regulated substances that are used to treat severe pain in a variety of healthcare settings (Opioid, 2017). However, the use of opioids alone can lead to undertreated post-operative pain and other adverse reactions. Unresolved postoperative pain may result in negative consequences such as “increased morbidity, impaired physical function and quality of life, slowed recovery, prolonged opioid use during and after hospitalization, and increased cost of care” (Gan, 2017, p. 2288). In order to adequately manage pain, nurses can incorporate complementary therapies to effectively treat postoperative pain and promote greater patient outcomes (AAOS, 2015). Complementary therapy is the use of alternative therapies, such as guided imagery, massage or acupuncture in addition to traditional Western medicine (NCCIH, 2018). Nurses have a responsibility to promote health and wellness for all patients. As patient advocates, it is a nurse’s duty to educate patients and the community on the risks and benefits related to postoperative opioid use, as well as complementary therapies that are available for pain management. By researching the effectiveness of patient recovery outcomes with the use of complementary therapies compared to opioid use alone, nurses are better able to develop a personalized pain management regimen that addresses each individual patient. The purpose of this Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Brief is to identify how the use of complementary therapies in conjunction with opioid analgesics may improve pain management and the overall recovery of post-operative adult patients.
