Research Article

Comfort Measures in Patients with Traumatic Injuries: A Systematic Review

Authors: Kelvin Meh Kum, Mary Bi Suh Atanga, Fongang Landi, Nana Celestin.

DOI: 10.33425/3065-5641.1015

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Abstract

Purpose: To elaborate a contextualized comprehensive model to enhance comfort measures in traumatic post- operative patients.

Data Sources: Electronic search of PubMed, Google Scholar, CAS Google Scholar, Yahoo, Cochrane, ResearchGate websites and bibliographies of included articles and key journals.

Study Selection: English and French language studies published between January 2009 and April 2024 that appraises approaches to enhance comfort measures in traumatic post-operative patients.

Data Extraction: Data extraction and critical appraisal were conducted by three system-internal and one independent reviewer, the statistician, for ethical consideration. Study design, intervention, level of application, setting, study participants, measures, standards, guidelines, implementation and impact lessons were extracted from the included articles.

Results of Data Synthesis: Over 540 articles were screened for inclusion, of which 20 full-text articles were included in data synthesis comprising qualitative, retrospective, survey, systematic review, quasi-experimental and Randomized controlled trial studies.

Conclusions: Nursing is a multidimensional profession that offers holistic care to patients, families and communities. The goal of the care rendered to patients sick or well is aimed at meeting patient’s needs or demands from the health care system, resolve disease related problems and bring satisfaction and a feeling of comfort to the patient. This is achieve by rendering holistic care to patients including patient and family education as a means of meeting their basic needs and ensuring patient safety and comfort. Traumatic patients in this prospect require particular attention and measures to enhance their comfort in the hospital setting, pre-requisite for their fast and effective recovery. Though models, standards and guidelines do exist, they have not been standardized to meet the requirements of diversified settings and problems, and are generally context or problem-specific. Governments and organisations are advised to consider this gap in their policy and endeavour serving their local context with standards while enhancing research for improvement, good practices and patient’s safety culture.

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