Postoperative Pain Management Practices and Patient Satisfaction

Abstract

Postoperative pain continues to be a major clinical concern that affects recovery, healing outcomes, and overall patient well-being, despite advancements in pain-management strategies. Inadequate postoperative analgesia can slow recovery and increase the risk of persistent pain. Understanding current postoperative pain management practices in an expanding healthcare region such as Rajkot is essential for improving standards of surgical care. This study aimed to assess postoperative pain management practices and evaluate patient satisfaction with pain control among adult surgical patients in a tertiary care hospital in Rajkot. The specific objectives were to measure pain intensity, examine pain management methods used by healthcare professionals, and determine levels of patient satisfaction. A descriptive research design was used. The study was conducted in postoperative units of a tertiary care hospital in Rajkot, India. A total of 385 adult postoperative patients were selected using purposive sampling within 2–36 days following surgery. Four instruments were utilized: a demographic and clinical data sheet, the Numeric Rating Scale/Visual Analogue Scale for pain assessment, a structured questionnaire on pain-management practices, and a five-item Likert-type patient satisfaction scale. Data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. Findings revealed that 85% of participants reported postoperative pain, with most experiencing moderate pain (mean score around 5). Pain was most frequently reported during movement (54%). Many patients received analgesics only upon request, and 61% reported receiving no education about pain-management strategies. Additionally, 63% felt that discussions about pain control were insufficient. Although overall satisfaction was moderate, 46% believed their pain was not adequately managed. The study concludes that significant gaps exist in postoperative pain management within the tertiary care facility. Implementing scheduled multimodal analgesia, strengthening patient education, and improving communication between staff and patients are essential to enhance postoperative outcomes.