Patients Perceptions on Non-pharmacological Interventions Postoperative Pain Management in Adults

Abstract

The current thesis focuses on pivotality and vitality of patients’ satisfaction in postoperative pain management using nonpharmacological interventions. Research centres on nonpharmacological pain management (NPM) in post-operative nursing care. NPM is defined as nursing intervention without the use of pharmacological medication. The aim of NPMs is to ensure patients are happy and satisfied with services provided – the patient’ pain levels are reduced dramatically resulting in positive patient experiences. Research has established using nonpharmacological interventions are important in reducing the use of pharmacological treatments thus reducing side effects and curtailing the misuse of certain medications e.g. opiates, which is linked with addiction - a major global problem.

The research adopts a literature review approach whereby twenty articles were chosen from research databases EBSCO, CINAHL, PUBMED, and SAGE. Qualitative analysis was conducted through categorizing, identification of themes and subthemes. Thematic analyses were used to interpret the data, which were divided and themed into emotional, physical, cognitive and behavioural support. These themes are split into: empathy, understanding, encouragement, motivation, patience, tolerance, validations of feeling, suggestion coping strategies, realistic coping setting, building a support network, enhance pain management, effective pain management, restoring motion range, improving strength and endurances, mobility and functionality enhance, maintaining balance and coordination, progressive rehabilitation programs, patient education, functional movement training, goals, and motivation. These groups are subdivided into develop interpersonal/care relationship, effective communication, word of encouragement, exercises, and patience. These themes and divisions were done to analyze each variable using a literature review with the aim of outlining how each variable applies to NPM interventions, tailored towards measuring patient satisfaction.

This research concludes NPM interventions in post-operative pain management were satisfactory and provide patient satisfaction. This outcome is based on patients’ satisfaction and experiences with nonpharmacological treatment. However, this thesis recommends further research on patient’ satisfaction and creating awareness of using nonpharmacological pain interventions in nursing care and how to improve applying these interventions in line with technological development. By improving nursing care for post-operative patients, this enhances and improves skills of caregivers/nurses, thus, increasing patient’ safety and satisfaction.

Keywords: Non-pharmacological, pain management, postoperative, patients’ satisfaction, patients’ perception and nurses' perspectives