機構老人慢性疼痛因應之生活經驗

Chronic Pain Coping Experiences of Institutionalized Elderly

台灣老年人口快速的成長，而疼痛是老人常見的問題之一，但目前國內對於長期照顧機構老人慢性疼痛因應經驗探討的研究卻不多。本研究係採用現象學研究法，目的在了解機構老人慢性疼痛因應的主觀經驗，共訪談18位有慢性疼痛經驗的機構老人，運用Lincoln及Guba（1985）所提出質性研究的四項評鑑標準來評量資料收集與分析的嚴謹度，資料分析是採用Colaizzi's分析法。結果呈現在慢性疼痛的因應經驗方面有三個主題，分別是「使用各種緩解疼痛的方法」、「被動忍受疼痛」及「學習與慢性疼痛共存」。此研究結果使我們深入了解到機構老人如何處理他們的疼痛，亦可提供護理實務上建立合宜的照護指引。建議長期照護機構可增加慢性疼痛教育課程，未來研究可發展中文版老人慢性疼痛評估工具以達到對老人疼痛問題評估的一致性。

While pain is a common problem among the elderly, a group that has grown significantly as a percentage of population in recent decades, few studies have been done to describe their chronic pain coping experiences. The aim of this qualitative study was to enhance understanding of chronic pain coping strategies adopted by elderly residents of long-term care facilities. Eighteen elderly residents were interviewed, with Lincoln and Guba's trustworthiness criteria utilized to evaluate methodological rigor. Colaizzi's phenomenological approach was used to analyze chronic pain coping data. Three themes that emerged in findings included: use of multiple pain relief strategies, use of passive pain endurance and learning to live with chronic pain. The author hopes that results of this study will provide better insight on approaches taken by the elderly to personal pain management and help guide the development of nursing guidelines for chronic pain management. Recommendations highlighted in this study include increasing chronic pain education and continued research in support of developing a Chinese version chronic pain assessment tool for the elderly.