STARES 3 Evidence Based Practice

S- Every Monday for an hour the physio department runs a professional development which has consisted of education on suctioning, explain pain and kinesio tapes vs. rigid taping and many more previously to me being on placement. Each week a different physio does a presentation of their choice. I was asked to present one in my second last week (due to the public holiday in final week)

T– To choose a topic relevant to the hospital and my interests and form a presentation to last from half an hour to an hour.

A– I chose the topic of post operative pain relief in surgical patients. I chose this due to the fact I was mainly on the orthopaedic ward and pain was one of the main contributing factors that restricted patients from progressing and doing there exercises. My presentation included information about pain itself and pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods of pain relief in surgical patients. This was further detail to opoids, NSAID’s, local anaesthetics, motor blocks and continuous local anaesthetic options. I also went into a bit of detail about the On-Q system including pain busters as this is something used with shoulder surgeries, and I had not seen them before.
I used online articles and fact sheets from health organisation websites to collaborate enough information on each area of pain management. I used my cardio-respiratory text book for effects of pain and surgery on the heart and lungs and also went back to my lectures notes on pain( By Ben Wand) to get a further understanding of why pain occurs.
My presentation went for approximately 40 mins with extra time left for questions, yet most questions and small discussions were done mid presentation.
Result – The results was that my presentation went for approximately 50 mins with extra time left for questions, yet most questions and small discussions were done mid presentation. It raised a discussion about the use of NSAID’s post surgery and why here it is unlikely that patients would be prescribed them as well as discussions about the pain buster.

E– I was told on my first day that I was to do a presentation so began to look out for interesting topics or things that I didn’t know much about. I found that everything I was seeing didn’t really jump out at me and I wanted to present on something that would not only be useful revision and study for me but would provide some new information to the physios. I also took into account that I am doing my cardio prac next and wanted to therefore some how relate it to cardio. I decided on pain management as it will affect me in whatever are of physiotherapy I am in and that pain and operations have such a large effect on the cardio-respiratory system that it would be worth while doing some background reading to revise some more cardio.
I found that I was a little nervous doing my presentation and muddled up my words in some instances but improved throughout. However it was a successful presentation and the physios seemed to enjoy it and got some new information out of it as well as it being a good refresher.

S– Use up to date articles and text books.
Start researching early so you know you will have enough information to last an hour.
Know your information well so you can answer questions about the topic during and after your presentation.
Be confident (at least pretend) and you will look confident.
Anything you present on will be useful to the physios if it is useful for you.