The perception of pre and postoperative pain management among recently operated patients in Saudi Arabia

Despite advances in surgical and anesthetic techniques, postoperative pain remains a prevalent and often inadequately managed clinical issue. Poorly controlled postoperative pain is associated with delayed recovery, increased morbidity, and reduced patient satisfaction. In Saudi Arabia, there is limited evidence on real-world pain management practices and their outcomes.

This study aims to evaluate the effect of pain management strategies on postoperative recovery, providing evidence to guide patient-centered and efficient pain control protocols.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Makkah between July and September 2025. Participants included adult patients (aged 15-75) who underwent major surgery affecting mobility. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire incorporating the APS-POQ-R tool, covering demographics, pre- and postoperative pain experience, management practices, and patient perceptions. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 28. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

A total of 207 participants were included. Almost half were females (58.9%) and aged 30-49 years (47.8%). Abdominal surgeries were most common (43.1%). Most participants experienced moderate to severe pain within 24 h post-surgery, though pain intensity decreased by the end of the first week. Only 64.7% received preoperative counseling on pain control, and 31.4% were involved in analgesic decision-making. While 76.8% were prescribed home analgesics, 33.8% reported adverse side effects. Satisfaction with pain management was significantly associated with marital status, nationality, type of hospital, mode of anesthesia, timeliness of analgesia, and the effectiveness of home medication (p = 0.001). Patients who received both pharmacological and non-pharmacological education, as well as those who felt well-prepared for postoperative pain, reported significantly higher satisfaction (p = 0.001).

Effective pain management significantly improved recovery, mobility, and satisfaction. However, gaps remain in patient education, shared decision-making, and non-drug interventions. Enhancing preoperative counseling, multimodal pain control, and patient-provider communication is recommended to optimize postoperative outcomes in Saudi healthcare settings.