An intervention study to enhance postoperative pain management

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology and Pain Management
• Surgical Patient Care
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Postoperative pain management remains a challenge in surgical settings.
• Existing pain treatment protocols may lack standardization and consistent evaluation.
• A need exists for structured services to optimize acute pain relief for surgical inpatients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation process of an acute pain service (APS) in a large hospital.
• To evaluate the impact of the APS on postoperative pain relief using quality improvement methods.
• To assess changes in nurses' knowledge and pain assessment practices.

Main Methods:

• A continuous quality improvement program was implemented, involving nursing, anesthesia, and surgery departments.
• A visual analog scale (VAS) was introduced for pain intensity assessment.
• Evidence-based guidelines for multimodal pain treatment were disseminated, and nurse knowledge was surveyed before and after implementation.
• Pain indicators, including VAS scores and analgesic consumption, were monitored in 2383 surgical inpatients over 72 hours postoperatively.

Main Results:

• A significant improvement in pain scores was observed after the inception of the APS (P < 0.001).
• The implementation involved developing a quality manual and standardizing multimodal pain treatment.
• Nurses and physicians were trained on evidence-based guidelines, enhancing their familiarity with postoperative pain management.

Conclusions:

• The establishment of an acute pain service, incorporating VAS pain assessment, multimodal treatment, and quality evaluation, effectively enhanced postoperative pain relief.
• Multidisciplinary teams comprising surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses are crucial for successful implementation and improved patient outcomes.