Non-Pharmacological Analgesia
Non-pharmacological adjuncts are generally ineffective as stand-alone treatments, but are beneficial as they:
- Are well-accepted by patients
- May improve analgesia
Evidence is limited. - Avoid side-effects
Management
Specific therapy:
- Patient and carer education
Educating patients about both pain and pain management improves adherence to pain plans, and reduce pain severity. - Cognitive behavioural therapy
- Relaxation and hypnosis
- Music therapy
Marginal and Ineffective Therapies
Limited or no evidence exists to support:
- TENS
- Acupuncture
- Reiki
References
- Schug SA, Palmer GM, Scott DA, Alcock M, Halliwell R, Mott JF; APM:SE Working Group of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and Faculty of Pain Medicine (2020), Acute Pain Management: Scientific Evidence (5th edition), ANZCA & FPM, Melbourne.
- Hu C, Zhang H, Wu W, Yu W, Li Y, Bai J, et al. Acupuncture for Pain Management in Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016;2016:1720239. doi: 10.1155/2016/1720239. Epub 2016 Feb 10.
- Niknejad B, Bolier R, Henderson CR Jr, Delgado D, Kozlov E, Löckenhoff CE, et al. Association Between Psychological Interventions and Chronic Pain Outcomes in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Intern Med. 2018 Jun 1;178(6):830-839. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.0756.
- Bennett MI, Bagnall AM, José Closs S. How effective are patient-based educational interventions in the management of cancer pain? Systematic review and meta-analysis. Pain. 2009 Jun;143(3):192-9. Epub 2009 Mar 12.