The Effect of Postoperative Pain Assessment and Management Monitoring Program on Surgical Nurses’ Documentation, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Patients' Satisfaction at Mansoura University Hospitals

Introduction: Post operative pain is an expected adverse outcome following surgery and it often delays mobilization and overall recovery. Acute post operative pain is subjective and cannot be measured objectively. Aims: The aim of this study was to: 1Assess nurses' postoperative pain assessment and management documentation of pain in the first three days postoperatively in the surgical wards at Mansoura University Hospitals. 2-Assess nurses’ knowledge of and attitudes toward pain in the surgical wards at Mansoura University Hospitals.3Assess nurses’ communication with patients and their satisfaction of pain management, and 4-Evaluate the effectiveness of implementing a postoperative pain assessment and management program (POPAM) on improving nurses’ documentation, knowledge, attitudes, communication with the patients and their satisfaction of pain management. Materials and Method: The POPAM program was implemented for six months from 10 November 2010 to 10 April 2011.Data were collected by interviewing 18 nurses working in surgical wards at Mansoura University Hospitals. The program was evaluated by means of a quasi-experimental pre-post test design Documentation of pain in the first three days postoperatively in the patients' records were audited, nurses’ knowledge of and their attitudes toward pain, and, assessment of nurses’ communication about pain with patients and their satisfaction about nurses’ intervention were assessed before and after implementing the program. Results: The findings illustrated that the implementation of an educational program for nurses was successful. First of all, the patients’ records showed a significant difference in the amount and the quality of nursing documentation which reflected the fact that nurses became more aware about the importance of documentation and might also means that they change their practices toward better postoperative pain management. Secondly, the nurses developed the habit of assessing postoperative pain intensity using numeric rating scales, in addition to the assessment of other pain characteristics. Thirdly, the nurses improved their knowledge about postoperative pain, and their attitudes toward it were evidently changed. Finally, the quality of communication with patients about pain and pain management was significantly improved. Conclusions and Recommendations: The study concluded that nurses in Mansoura University Hospitals which included in this study possess moderate knowledge and positive attitude towards post operative management. Continuous education in pain management is crucial to improve nurses’ knowledge and attitude towards post operative management. The results of this study provided a framework for the development and implementation of continuing education programs for nursing staff which can enhance the quality of patient care in post operative pain management. Therefore, it is imperative that pain assessment should be included as the fifth cardinal vital signs in the nursing curriculum. Another implication related to nursing management is that this study might increase the awareness of the health care professionals and the health institutions administration toward the establishment of team work to induce change with a common purpose in upgrading the quality of pain assessment and management. Managers and supervisors can facilitate the application of educational programs and incorporate with the team to move more quickly in the desired change. Implications of the study may be relevant to nursing education and in continuing education of health care institutions. [Karima Elshamy and Eiad Ramzy .The Effect of Postoperative Pain Assessment and Management Monitoring Program on Surgical Nurses’ Documentation, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Patients' Satisfaction at Mansoura University Hospitals] Journal of American Science 2011;7(12):500-516]. (ISSN: 1545-1003). http://www.americanscience.org