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Pain control after surgery: a survey of current practice
Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
|January 1, 1985
Summary
Nurses demonstrate good knowledge of postoperative analgesics but poor administration practices, often delaying pain medication until pain is severe. Improved communication and preoperative patient education are key to enhancing pain management.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Practice
- Pain Management
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Effective postoperative pain management is crucial for patient recovery and well-being.
- Current nursing practices and knowledge regarding analgesic administration require evaluation.
- Understanding nurses' perspectives on pain control is essential for identifying areas of improvement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess qualified nurses' current practices and knowledge of postoperative analgesic administration.
- To gather nurses' opinions on physician prescribing habits and identify barriers to optimal pain control.
- To explore nurses' suggestions for improving postoperative pain management strategies.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire survey was distributed to 302 qualified nurses.
- A response rate of 70% (211 nurses) was achieved.
- Data collected included current analgesic administration practices, drug knowledge, and opinions on pain management.
Main Results:
- Nurses possessed good knowledge but exhibited poor administration practices, with 56% administering fewer than six postoperative doses.
- The majority of nurses delayed analgesia until patients reported pain, and 66% considered the dosage a poor indicator of experienced pain.
- Nurses perceived inconsistent physician prescribing (62%) and desired improvements (90%), highlighting communication deficits between healthcare providers and patients.
Conclusions:
- Significant gaps exist between nurses' knowledge and practice in postoperative analgesic administration.
- Enhanced communication among anesthesiologists, nurses, and patients is vital for effective pain management.
- Nurses advocate for increased involvement in pain management decisions and improved preoperative patient education to optimize pain control outcomes.