Cognitive Dissonance and Pediatric Procedural Pain Management: A Concept Clarification Academic Article uri icon

Abstract

  • Pediatric nurses have frequently reported in the literature that pain management is an important part of patient care. Evidence however, suggests that pediatric procedural pain treatments are often underused. Cognitive dissonance, or the mental conflict leading to unpleasant thoughts and or feelings may be related to this gap found between what pediatric nurses claim about procedural pain management and what they actually do.
    Objective: The purpose of this manuscript is to clarify and further develop the concept of cognitive dissonance in terms of its relationship to nurses' mental struggles with underutilization of pediatric procedural pain treatments. A more relevant and extended definition of cognitive dissonance is presented.
    Design: The concept of cognitive dissonance was examined using Rodger's evolutionary concept analysis approach/framework.
    Analysis Methods: Through a six-step process of concept identification, setting and sample identification, data collection, data analysis, and future implication discussion, a more accurate and representative definition of cognitive dissonance is described. Databases used included: CINAHL, Google Scholar, PsycINFO, ERIC, and PubMed. Seminal, recent, and relevant works were included in the review so to adequately develop and clarify the concept.
    Conclusions: Procedural pain management breech among pediatric nurses is proposed to occur prior to the mental conflict produced. The unpleasant mental conflict created after the breech is followed by the nurse's determination to reduce mental conflict through attitude change followed by cognition change, which more closely reflects his/her behavior.

Publication Date

  • 2018-06-01