ArticleHealth science reports2026
Ethical Challenges of Acute Pain Management: A Scoping Review.
Article in Health science reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background and Aims: Acute pain significantly impairs patients' quality of life and well-being. Its management frequently presents complex ethical dilemmas for healthcare professionals, particularly when dealing with diverse patient populations, raising critical questions about practice and equity. The primary objective of this scoping review is to examine the ethical challenges encountered by healthcare professionals in managing acute pain. By exploring these dilemmas, the review aims to enhance understanding of the complexities involved in pain management across different patient demographics. Methods: Scoping review conducted following the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was performed across multiple databases, including ProQuest, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect, focusing on studies published up to April 2025 without any lower date restrictions. Thematic analysis of ethical challenges identified within the included literature. Fifty-three relevant studies meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed to identify and synthesize themes related to ethical challenges in acute pain management. Results: Key ethical challenges identified include navigating informed consent processes, managing patient expectations effectively, and balancing the benefits of pain relief (particularly with opioids) against significant risks like dependence and misuse. The findings underscore the critical importance of a patient-centered approach, reliant on clear communication and interprofessional collaboration. Cultural sensitivity and strict adherence to medical ethics principles were emphasized as paramount, especially for vulnerable populations. Conclusion: This review advocates for integrating ethical considerations into clinical decision-making frameworks and promoting empathetic responses through training programs. By addressing these themes, it seeks to enhance healthcare practitioners' understanding and improve best practices in acute pain management, ultimately leading to better quality of care and patient outcomes.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.