OC14 - Implementation of an educational program in children's post - operative pain

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Pediatric Pain Management
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Effective postoperative pain management is crucial for high-quality patient care.
• Nursing education plays a vital role in enhancing clinical practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the intensity of postoperative pain in children following an educational intervention.
• To evaluate the impact of nursing education on pain management strategies.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 146 children (aged 0-16 years) was conducted.
• Surgical ward nurses utilized the FLACC, FACES, and NRS scales to record pain scores post-intervention.
• Data collection occurred between December 2012 and March 2014.

Main Results:

• Mean pain scores decreased significantly at 24 and 48 hours post-surgery (0.6 ± 1.43 and 0.13 ± 0.79, respectively).
• Median pain scores correlated with surgery duration (p = 0.048).
• Non-pharmacological pain methods were used in 20% of cases and were associated with child's age (p = 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Postoperative pain management programs, enhanced by nursing education, lead to effective patient care.
• Careful consideration is needed when implementing non-pharmacological pain control methods, especially concerning age appropriateness.