Information Needs Assessment regarding postoperative pain: Gender based analysis of adult population

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

12-21-2017

Publication Title

Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine

Abstract

Introduction The primary objective of this study was to determine the informational content that patients identify as being most important regarding postoperative pain and its management. The secondary objectives were to investigate: 1. Gender-based difference in information needs 2. An age-based difference in information needs 3. The optimum time and the best methods for providing information. Materials and methods (NA for case report) After obtaining IRB approval we conducted a descriptive study using a telephone survey. The number of subjects in the study were 300 (150 M / 150 F). The target population was > 18 years of age, postoperative English-speaking subjects, who were discharged within 72 h after surgery. The postoperative pain related survey had 20 items rated on a 10-point Likert scale of importance. The questions were then ranked according to highest mean scores for each item to determine which issues was most importance to the entire patient sample. Results/Case report Information Item Mean ± SD (n = 150) Ranking A. Information about pain 1. How much pain to expect 7.1 ± 2.8 10 2. How long I would have pain 7.4 ± 2.6 9 3. Who to speak to about my pain 7.4 ± 2.7 9 4. The best words to use to explain my pain 6.5 ± 2.8 13 5. How my pain would be treated 8.0 ± 2.1 6 6. If I can get addicted to drugs used to treat pain 6.6 ± 3.2 12 7. Other ways of dealing with my pain 7.7 ± 2.4 8 in addition to medicine 8. Common concerns many patients have about 6.5 ± 2.5 13 pain and pain medicines 9. If I can get help to pay for pain medicines 5.9 ± 3.3 14 10. If pain can affect recovery/ rehabilitation 6.5 ± 2.1 13 B. Information about side effects of medication 11. About side effects I was most likely to get: 8.0 ± 2.1 6 12. About possible side effects, even the rare ones 6.9 ± 2.5 11 13. How likely I was to get the side effects 7.9 ± 2.3 7 14. Who I should speak to if I had side effects 8.2 ± 2.4 4 15. What side effects I should report 8.4 ± 2.2 3 16. How long side effects might last 8.2 ± 2.0 4 17. How side effects would be treated 8.1 ± 2.1 5 C. Information after leaving the hospital 18. The plan for which drugs to take and when 8.8 ± 2.4 1 19. Who to call if my pain was not well controlled 8.5 ± 2.2 2 20. What I can do if I still have pain or side effects 8.4 ± 1.8 3 We also detected a significant difference in gender-based and age-based information needs. Discussion The results of the study will enable the perioperative healthcare providers prioritize, improve and invest in the areas of pain management education and counseling, reported high on the patient's list of desired information. Patient-guided discussion, regarding the subsets of pain management education they feel, are more pertinent to them, may empower the patient, allay anxiety, and improve overall satisfaction with perioperative services offered.

Volume

42

Issue

6

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