Evaluation of postoperative pain and the use of complementary therapies by nursing

Abstract

Background: pain is one of the factors that mostly affects the process of recuperation by influencing the progress of the patient. Pain produces physical and mental suffering, sleep disorders, effects on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems and delays in movement. As nursing personnel are responsible for the care of patients, it is their responsibility to identify factors that put patients’ health at risk. Objective: to evaluate post-surgical pain and application of complementary therapies by the nursing personnel. Methods: a longitudinal-cuantitative study was done among patients attended at the surgical ward of the Hospital General Santo Domingo of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas from January to February 2018. The universe to be studied consisted of 91 patients subjected to outpatient surgery. Results: out of 91 patients evaluated, 34 patients or 37.4% referred post-surgical pain, 23.5% or 8 patients were male and 26 or 76.5% were female. The intensity range of pain that prevailed the most was mild which was reported by 22 patients. Out of those 22 patients, 10 patients manifested not having felt any pain after the application of complementary therapy, while 10 patients maintained the same range of pain but with minor intensity and 2 patients did not present any improvement at all. Conclusions: good management of pain was shown by the nursing staff through the use of complementary therapies that was found to be favorable as patients reported pain relief. Application of local cold showed the most acceptance and proved to be the most beneficial amongst patients. DeCS: PAIN, POSTOPERATIVE/nursing; COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES/nursing; LONGITUDINAL STUDIES; AMBULATORY SURGICAL PROCEDURES/nursing; PATIENT SATISFACTION.