Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 29, 2025
A Quantitative Sensory Testing Paradigm to Obtain Measures of Pain Processing in Patients Undergoing Breast Cancer Surgery
Published on: January 18, 2018
Effectiveness of a best practice guideline to manage pain in surgical patients
María-Pilar Córcoles-Jiménez1, María-Victoria Ruiz-García1, María-Lucía Herreros-Sáez1
1University General Hospital, Albacete, Spain.
Background:
The prevention and control of acute postoperative pain is essential, not only to avoid unnecessary suffering, but to reduce postoperative morbidity, recovery time, hospital stay and associated costs.
Aim:
To evaluate the effectiveness of implementing the Clinical Best Practice Guideline (BPG) "Assessment and Management of Pain" recommendations for pain control in surgical patients.
Methods:
Prospective, observational, longitudinal study.
Subjects:
Surgical patients over 14 admitted to the University Hospital Complex of Albacete, and discharged during the last working days of every month.
Variables:
1) demographic data, hospital stay. 2) The process indicators of BPG implementation. 3) Patient outcomes: prevalence and intensity of pain in the first 24 postsurgical hours, maximum intensity of pain during hospitalization.
Tools:
Scales of assessment of pain intensity (0-10).
Data Collection:
Database of BPSO/CCEC® Program.
Ethical Aspects:
Anonymous data. DATA ANALYSIS (SPSS® V12): Descriptive during four periods: baseline (T0: December 2012); initial (T1: June-December 2013); intermediate (T2: 2014-2015); consolidation (T3: 2016-2017). Measurements of central tendency and dispersion, absolute and relative frequencies, according to variables. Comparison of proportions (Chi-Square) and averages (Student t-test, ANOVA). STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE: p < 0.05.
Results:
Included 3934 patients, 52.3% (2058) men. Daily intervention of pain detection was performed in 73.5% (2890) of patients (28% T0; 67.4% T1; 66.7% T2; 89.9% T3; p < 0.0001), assessment of pain with a scale in 65.2% (2567) (0% T0; 48.8% T1; 59.4% T2; 85.6% T3; p < 0.0001); 35.3% (1389) had a care plan for assessment and management of pain (0% T0; 34.6% T1; 32.3% T2; 42.3% T3; p < 0.0001). The percentage of patients who had serious pain (>5) during the first 24 h was reduced from 12.4% (T1) to 5.3% (T3) (p < 0.0001).
Conclusion:
Implementation of recommendations has led to a statistically significant improvement over the periods in the study. Pain intensity and the percentage of patients with severe pain have decreased in a significant way.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Peripheral Artery Disease V: Postoperative Nursing Management
01:25Analgesia and Pain Management
01:25Peptic Ulcer Disease V: Surgical Management and Nursing Care
Surgical Interventions for Peptic Ulcer Disease
01:14SBAR II: Application of SBAR
SBAR Report from a Nurse to a Health Care Provider
S: "Hello, Dr. Smith. This is Jane, RN, from the Med Surg unit. I am calling to tell you about Ms. White in Room 210, who is experiencing increased pain and redness at her incision site. Her recent...
01:11Guidelines for Writing Outcome
Patient outcomes reflect the patient's response to the goal rather than what the nurse aims to achieve. Terminology should be observable and measurable to avoid the reader's interpretation. The desired outcome should be realistic and achievable in the designated care timeframe. Expected outcomes should align with adjunctive therapies. The outcome should enhance care...