NURS FPX 4025 Assignment 4 Presenting Your PICO(T) Process Findings to Your Professional Peers

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX4025 Research and Evidence-Based Decision Making

Prof. Name

Date

Presenting Your PICO(T) Process Findings to Your Professional Peers

Hello, everyone. My name is ______. Today, I will present an evidence-based plan to improve post-operative outcomes for adult patients recovering from hernia repair surgery. I will walk you through the diagnosis, the PICO(T) question that guided my investigation, a summary of the evidence, and the nurse-led interventions I recommend to help reduce pain and support healing in the first three days after surgery.

Diagnosis: Outcomes, Risks, and Complications

Post-operative pain after hernia repair is a common concern that can hinder recovery and lower a patient’s quality of life. Pain and swelling are expected in the first few days after surgery. Ineffective interventions lead to complications such as infection, delayed healing, or even hernia recurrence. Research shows that around 20 million hernia repair procedures are performed globally each year. Chronic postoperative inguinal pain (CPIP) occurs in about 20–30% of patients, with severe cases that interfere with daily activities, reported in 6–10% during long-term follow-up (Olsson et al., 2021).

Proactive discomfort care is vital for supporting recovery. It reduces the need for opioids and reduces healthcare system costs. Another research conducted by Jallali et al. (2024) explored that bleeding, pain, and hernia recurrence are potential complications. Around 10–15% of patients experience a hernia returning at the same site. Patients who smoke, have diabetes, are overweight, or face socioeconomic barriers experience higher complication risks after hernia surgery. Black patients are disproportionately affected due to systemic healthcare disparities, including limited access and underfunded facilities.

When post-operative pain after hernia surgery is left untreated or poorly managed, it can lead to several serious complications. Uncontrolled pain can delay wound healing, increase stress hormone levels, and weaken the immune response. It raises the risk of infection, hernia recurrence, or chronic post-surgical pain. Patients experience reduced mobility. It can lead to complications such as blood clots or pneumonia. Moreover, unmanaged pain leads to increased reliance on opioids, which can result in dependency or other adverse effects. These outcomes hinder patient recovery and increase healthcare costs (Olsson et al., 2021). Early care is vital for decreasing complications and supporting a faster, safer recovery.

Formulating the Research Question 

The PICO(T) outline has been used to improve this query about pain care and recovery outcomes in adult patients following hernia repair surgery. The constituents of the PICO(T) query are below:

• P (Population): Adult patients after hernia repair surgery
• I (Intervention): Nurse-led pain management strategies, including nano-patches, band compression, and mind–body techniques such as yoga and meditation, are employed in this intervention. 
• C (Comparison): The comparison receives guiding patients for passive distraction, like watching TV or listening to music
  O (Outcome): Improved pain levels and healing.
  T (Time): Within the first 3 days after surgery.

Research Question: In adult patients after hernia repair surgery (P), how does using pain management led by nurses like nano-patches, band compressions, and mind–body modalities (yoga and meditation) (I), compared to guiding patients for passive distraction like watching TV or listening to music (C), affect pain levels (O) within the first 3 days after surgery (T)? 

Summary of Evidence

This project relied on several quality peer-reviewed studies. According to Niyonkuru et al. (2024), mind-body strategies like yoga and meditation can help decrease discomfort following surgery. The researchers observed that persons with pre-existing depression experienced greater pain within the first 72 hours and again at six months post-surgery. However, this was not consistently the case during the 3–6-month period. The study showed that combining physical and mental care supports better healing outcomes. Moreover, Chelly et al. (2024) discuss the promising role of nanotechnology in managing postoperative pain following procedures such as hernia repair. The article highlights findings from studies on innovative Nano patch devices, such as NeuroCuple™.

It utilizes nanotechnology to target inflammation and pain at the surgical site. According to the reported data, patients who used these nano-patches experienced a 41% reduction in pain levels and required 52% fewer opioid prescription refills compared to those who did not use the patches. These results suggest that nanotechnology-based interventions enhance pain management. It contributes to safer and more effective postoperative recovery. Guidelines from the American Society of Peri Anesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) emphasized that unaddressed postoperative pain hinders healing and increases the risk of complications such as respiratory distress and chronic pain syndromes.

NURS FPX 4025 Assignment 4 Presenting Your PICO(T) Process Findings to Your Professional Peers

Zhang et al. (2022) investigated nursing care practices that support patients’ inguinal hernia surgery to promote effective pain management. The interventions include regular pain assessments, early mobilization, wound monitoring, patient education on postoperative care, and emotional support. This improved pain management, reduced the risk of complications, and promoted quicker recovery, based on real patient data. Moreover, Xiao et al. (2024) examine the use of passive distraction techniques, such as watching television or listening to music, as a means of managing pain. While the study found that these methods can provide some relief, they are less effective than nurse-led interventions.

The research indicates that pain management outcomes improve when nurses engage patients through guided relaxation techniques or by applying supportive tools, such as therapeutic patches or pressure bands. Each source was evaluated using the CRAAP test to safeguard its currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose in supporting this evidence-based care plan.

Answer to PICO(T) Question

The research investigates whether nurse-led pain interventions enhance pain control and healing outcomes in adult patients recovering from hernia repair surgery, compared to standard passive distraction methods, during the first three post-surgical days. Evaluation of the available evidence suggests that active nursing involvement, utilizing tools such as nano-patches, abdominal binders, and yoga and meditation, results in improved pain relief and faster recovery. Studies by Niyonkuru et al. (2024) highlight that mind-body approaches like yoga and meditation can help decrease discomfort following surgery.

Similarly, Chelly et al. (2024) demonstrate that innovative interventions like nano-patches decrease pain intensity and reduce the need for opioids. These findings underscore the importance of nurse-led, multimodal pain management approaches over passive methods, such as watching TV or listening to music.The evaluation is based on several important assumptions. Nurse-led pain management, while effective, does not guarantee the complete elimination of post-operative pain. Patient engagement with interventions such as nano-patches, abdominal binders, and mind–body techniques varies and does not always align with recommended use. Standard care relies on passive methods such as watching TV or listening to music.

This lacks the structured support provided by nurse-led programs, giving the intervention a relative advantage (Xiao et al., 2024). The focus on the first three days post-surgery is critical, as this period is when pain is most intense and recovery is highly sensitive to effective pain management. The research assumes patients have comparable access to healthcare resources, basic knowledge to use interventions like nano-patches, and similar socioeconomic backgrounds. Studies by Zhang et al. (2022) prove that enhanced nursing care leads to improved pain relief and faster recovery after hernia repair. These insights highlight the potential of structured, nurse-led interventions to improve early post-operative recovery outcomes compared to standard care.

Key Steps of Care

Multiple evidence-based patient care strategies have been recommended to improve post-operative pain management. One of the primary steps involves integrating nurse-led interventions, such as incorporating mind-body practices like yoga and meditation, along with motivational interviewing, relaxation exercises, and guided imagery, to improve pain after surgery (Niyonkuru et al., 2024). Scheduled follow-ups by nursing staff during the first three days post-surgery allow for timely pain assessment, adjustment of pain control methods, and patient education on self-care techniques.

The use of abdominal binders and nano-patches for pain relief helps patients adhere to pain management plans and adopt beneficial habits. It contributes to improved healing and reduced complication rates (Zhang et al., 2022). Nursing care practices that support patients’ inguinal hernia surgery to promote pain management. The interventions, including regular pain assessments, early mobilization, wound monitoring, patient education, and improved pain management, reduced the risk of complications and promoted quicker recovery, as evidenced by real patient data (Jallali et al., 2024). Furthermore, addressing healthcare disparities requires expanding post-operative pain management services to community clinics in low-income areas where access to specialized care is limited.

Collaborations between telehealth providers and healthcare organizations can offer additional support for patients recovering from hernia surgery in remote or underserved regions (Nikolian et al., 2021). Implementing an effective regular follow-up system allows healthcare providers to monitor pain levels, medication adherence, and recovery progress through patient self-reports, digital pain tracking tools, and scheduled nursing assessments (Nikolian et al., 2021). This consistent monitoring facilitates timely adjustments to pain management plans and enhances patient education during recovery. 

Conclusion

The current plan underlines the significance of nurses in multimodal pain management. It includes nano-patches, abdominal binders, and mind–body techniques to improve postoperative outcomes for adult patients recovering from hernia repair surgery. Tailoring care to individual patient needs and addressing disparities through expanded access and telehealth support ensures equitable and effective recovery. Implementing structured nurse-led pain management strategies fosters safer, faster, and more patient-centered healing, underscoring the vital contribution of nursing in optimizing surgical outcomes.

References

Chelly, J. E., Goel, S. K., Kearns, J., Kopac, O., & Sadhasivam, S. (2024). Nanotechnology for pain management. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(9), 2611. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13092611 

Jallali, M., Chaouch, M. A., Zenati, H., Hassine, H. B., Gafsi, B., & Noomen, F. (2024). Complications unveiled: A detailed case report on mesh migration post-incisional hernia repair. International Journal of Surgery Case Reports, 121, 109976. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2024.109976 

NURS FPX 4025 Assignment 4 Presenting Your PICO(T) Process Findings to Your Professional Peers

Nikolian, V. C., Akhter, M. S., Iqbal, E., Sutton, T. L., Orenstein, S. B., Rosen, M. J., & Poulose, B. K. (2021). A national evaluation of surgeon experiences in telemedicine for the care of hernia and abdominal core health patients. World Journal of Surgery, 46(1), 76–83. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-021-06332-9

Niyonkuru, E., Iqbal, M. A., Zhang, X., & Ma, P. (2024). Complementary approaches to postoperative pain management: A review of non-pharmacological interventions. Pain and Therapy, 14(1), 121–144. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40122-024-00688-1 

Olsson, A., Sandblom, G., Franneby, U., Sondén, A., Gunnarsson, U., & Dahlstrand, U. (2021). Do postoperative complications correlate to chronic pain following inguinal hernia repair? A prospective cohort study from the Swedish Hernia Register. Hernia. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-021-02545-y

Xiao, Y., Sun, J., & Tao, G. (2024). Effects of soothing music on the intraoperative management of patients undergoing tension-free herniorrhaphy: A retrospective study. Noise and Health, 26(121), 198–204. https://doi.org/10.4103/nah.nah_5_24

NURS FPX 4025 Assignment 4 Presenting Your PICO(T) Process Findings to Your Professional Peers

Zhang, N., Miao, J., & Zheng, Q. (2022). The effect of nursing intervention on patients with inguinal hernia and its influence on self-management ability. Contrast Media & Molecular Imaging, 2022, 4965709. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/4965709