Nursing-Led Pain Management: Impact on Patient Satisfaction Following Abdominal Surgery

The post-operative phase is critical among patients who are vulnerable to complications due to psychological and physiological stress. The quality of nursing care provided during this period can directly influence the post-operative outcomes.

The study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of nursing interventions on post-operative pain and satisfaction among patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

A quantitative approach was used for the study to evaluate the effectiveness of nursing interventions on post-operative pain and satisfaction among patients undergoing abdominal surgery in a tertiary care hospital in Mangaluru. Patients in the experimental group were given pre-operative health education and were asked to listen to their preferred music. Post-operative pain and patient satisfaction were assessed in both study groups at different time points.

The majority of the study participants in the experimental (62.0%) and treatment-as-usual groups (63.4%) were aged between 41 and 60 years. In the experimental group, the majority (56%) of them were interested in listening to instrumental music, and the remaining participants (44%) were interested in nature sounds. Pain scores significantly decreased in the experimental group than in the treatment-as-usual group. There was a statistically significant difference in the patient satisfaction scores between the study groups (P < 0.05).

Nurses should develop better strategies and protocols in nursing practice for the assessment of the pre-operative needs of the patient and incorporate various evidence-based interventions to improve pain management and satisfaction among patients.