Ambulance nurses' experiences of pain management with Penthrox® in Swedish ambulance care: A mixed method study.
International Emergency Nursing · 2023-03-27 · Qualitative study
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Methoxyflurane (MTX) is an inhalation agent that has several potential benefits for limiting various types of pain in ambulance care. AIM: To elucidate how ambulance nurses experience the characteristics of MTX in an ambulance care setting. METHOD: This cross-sectional study applied a mixed-methods approach, using a questionnaire together with complementary interviews. The questionnaire survey was analyzed using descriptive statistics (10-point Likert scale and question index values [Q-IV], range: 0-1.0). The interviews were analyzed using directed content analysis. Study results were reported following the STROBE statement. RESULTS: The ambulance nurses' overall general satisfaction with the MTX concept had a median of 7.0 (IQR 5-8), corresponding to a mean Q-IV of 0.84 (very good experience). The qualitative part was divided into three categories: sense of security, patient participation, and general usefulness. The results revealed varying experiences of usefulness, including pain-relieving effect and the possibility of patient participation. The perceived strong odor of MTX seemed to concern the ambulance nurses and their patients. CONCLUSION: In general, MTX was experienced as a safe and effective analgesic. However, the experiences of the overall usefulness varied, particularly since the product had a perceived strong odor. Increasing knowledge of using MTX, could likely increase the overall usefulness.
Abstract © the authors or publisher, via PubMed. Reuse and removal
Tags
Analgesics · Ambulance & prehospital nurses · Methoxyflurane · Clinician perspective
Related articles
- Nurses' perspectives on providing analgesia in the Italian prehospital emergency setting: A phenomenological study. (Int Emerg Nurs, 2025)
- Ambulance nurse's experience to relieve pain in patients with addiction problems in Sweden. (Int Emerg Nurs, 2019)
- Nurses' experiences of prehospital care encounters with children in pain. (Int Emerg Nurs, 2019)
- Identifying values and preferences around the choice of analgesia for patients with acute trauma pain in emergency and prehospital settings: using group concept mapping methodology. (BMJ Open, 2020)
- Measurement of pain in the prehospital setting using a visual analogue scale. (Prehosp Disaster Med, 2003)
- Prehospital Emergency Nurse competence and pain management in patients with acute abdominal pain: a retrospective observational study. (BMC Emerg Med, 2026)