Surgeon Perceptions and Experiences with Postoperative Acute Pain Management: A Mixed-Methods Study

Area of Science:

• Surgical Pain Management
• Acute Pain Therapeutics
• Healthcare Provider Perspectives

Background:

• Limited research exists on surgeons' experiences with acute postoperative pain management in adults.
• Prior studies focused on general healthcare providers, not specifically surgeons.
• This study addresses the gap in understanding surgeons' perspectives on acute pain management challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate surgeons' perceptions and experiences in managing acute postoperative pain.
• To identify challenges and barriers in acute pain management.
• To assess the perceived impact of inadequately managed pain on patient recovery.

Main Methods:

• A sequential mixed methods approach was employed, combining concept elicitation interviews and a quantitative survey.
• Interviews with 30 US-based general, orthopedic, and plastic surgeons identified key themes.
• A survey of 80 surgeons quantified unmet needs and experiences in postoperative pain management.

Main Results:

• Key themes included challenges in effective pain management and medication pros/cons.
• Surgeons' top challenges were managing patient expectations (72.5%) and balancing efficacy with adverse events (71.3%).
• Concerns about opioid addiction impacted prescribing (80%), and inadequately managed pain affected recovery (65%).

Conclusions:

• Surgeons' experiences highlight significant challenges and unmet needs in acute pain medication.
• Perceptions indicate a substantial negative impact of inadequately managed acute pain on patient recovery.
• Findings underscore the need for improved strategies and support for surgeons in postoperative pain management.