Post-Operative Pain and Analgesia at the University of Gondar Hospital

Judith  P. Cheong-Leen; Abdulmenan  Mohammednur; Abdulrahman  Tune; Ashebir  Nigussie; Afework  Amiha; Alemu  Girma; Gashaw Messele Messele; Benjamin  d.Z. Silverman

doi:10.20372/ejhbs.v5i1.199

Post-Operative Pain and Analgesia at the University of Gondar Hospital

Judith P. Cheong-Leen , Abdulmenan Mohammednur , Abdulrahman Tune , Ashebir Nigussie , Afework Amiha , Alemu Girma , Gashaw Messele Messele , Benjamin d.Z. Silverman

Articles

DOI: https://doi.org/10.20372/ejhbs.v5i1.199

Submitted: 2021-07-09 07:33:13

Published: 2021-07-14

Background: Post-operative pain has humanitarian, physiological and economic implications. So far the severity of post-operative pain and the effectiveness of analgesic prescribing has not been investigated in the University of Gondar previously.

Methods: Baseline data for pain in the post-operative period was gathered from 51 patients in November and December 2009, using a numerical scale or visual-analogue scale (VAS) according to patient ability. Analgesic prescription and administration information was collected for all patients, allowing the relationship between pain severity and analgesic practice to be elucidated.

Results: Over half (54.9%) of the patients had moderate or severe pain at rest, whilst nearly three-quarters (72.6%) had these levels of dynamic pain. No patients were prescribed paracetamol. Overall, 56.9% of the patients were prescribed a NSAID and 23.5% had received it in the preceding 8 hours. These rates did not vary significantly with pain severity. Only 3.9% of patients had opioid analgesia prescribed.

Discussion: Current analgesic practice could be improved. Recommendations are made to introduce a drug prescription and administration chart to the hospital, with training for the relevant staff. Future re-auditing of analgesic use may help to improve practice.