Evaluating the Impact of a Nurse-Led Comprehensive Pain Management Protocol on Postoperative Patient Outcomes

Authors: Thikrayat H. Al-Sayhati

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14576923

Short DOI: https://doi.org/g8xctq

Country: Saudi Arabia

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Abstract: Abstract
Background: Suboptimal postoperative pain control remains a major concern, often leading to prolonged recovery times, decreased patient satisfaction, and increased healthcare costs.
Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a nurse-led comprehensive pain management protocol on postoperative pain intensity, opioid consumption, patient satisfaction, and length of hospital stay.
Methods: A quasi-experimental, pretest–posttest design was conducted in a tertiary hospital. A total of 160 surgical patients were recruited: 80 received standard care (control) and 80 received the nurse-led protocol (treatment). Data on pain scores, opioid use (in morphine milligram equivalents), patient satisfaction, and length of stay were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics and comparative tests.
Results: Patients in the nurse-led protocol group demonstrated significantly lower pain scores from postoperative day 2 onward (p < 0.05), a 15% reduction in opioid consumption, and higher satisfaction ratings compared to the control group. Additionally, the treatment group had a shorter average length of hospital stay (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Implementing a nurse-led comprehensive pain management protocol can substantially improve postoperative outcomes by enhancing pain control, reducing opioid requirements, increasing patient satisfaction, and decreasing hospital stays. Further research, including cost-benefit analyses and long-term outcome evaluations, is recommended to solidify these findings.

Keywords: Nurse-led intervention, Postoperative pain management, Opioid consumption, Patient satisfaction, Length of stay

Paper Id: 231934

Published On: 2016-03-07

Published In: Volume 4, Issue 2, March-April 2016

Cite This: Evaluating the Impact of a Nurse-Led Comprehensive Pain Management Protocol on Postoperative Patient Outcomes - Thikrayat H. Al-Sayhati - IJIRMPS Volume 4, Issue 2, March-April 2016. DOI 10.5281/zenodo.14576923

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