The Effect of Humanistic Care in Post-Herpetic Neuralgia Patients after Implantation of Spinal Cord Electrical Stimulation

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the humanistic care (HC) following implantation of a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) in patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

Methods: Ninety-eight patients with PHN who underwent implantation of spinal cord electrical stimulation from August 2017 to November 2020 were included and randomly divided into control group (49 cases, routine care) and study group (49 cases, HC). The two groups were compared in terms of the healing of skin lesions, postoperative complications and nursing satisfaction. The changes in pain level, pain acceptance, psychological status and quality of life of patients before and after the intervention were also evaluated.

Results: The time to scar tissue formation , duration of regression of the skin lesions and time to no blistering eruption were shorter in the study group than in the control group (P< 0.05); The PRI, PPI, VAS and total score and HADS scores were lower in the study group than in the control group after the intervention; CPAQ-8 and GQOL-74 scores were higher in study group than in the control group (P< 0.05); The study group had a lower complication rate (4.08%) and higher satisfaction rate with care (97.96%) than the control group (83.67%) (P< 0.05).

Conclusion: HC following implantation of spinal cord electrical stimulation in PHN patients could accelerate the healing of skin lesions, reduce the level of pain, regulate negative emotions, enhance pain acceptance, improve the quality of life, reduce complications, resulting in high patient satisfaction.