TY - JOUR
T1 - Postoperative pain experiences
T2 - Relevant patient and staff attitudes
AU - Winefield, Helen R.
AU - Katsikitis, Mary
AU - Hart, Leanne M.
AU - Rounsefell, Bruce F.
PY - 1990
Y1 - 1990
N2 - Postoperative pain continues to occur, despite both advances in analgesic techniques and recognition of the damaging effect of pain upon recovery. This study set out to describe the pain experiences of successive cholecystectomy patients in a large teaching hospital, using three different pain measures and self-reports of anxiety and pain-related attitudes and experiences. Nurses and doctors in surgical wards provided parallel information about their pain-related attitudes and practices. A substantial proportion of patients suffered significant postoperative pain, apparently related to their fear of addiction and reluctance to ask for extra analgesic help. Nurses were more convinced than patients that patients should have more control of their own pain relief. Barriers to effective pain relief are seen to include cognitive, attitudinal and systemic factors; some suggestions are offered for reform of relevant hospital practices.
AB - Postoperative pain continues to occur, despite both advances in analgesic techniques and recognition of the damaging effect of pain upon recovery. This study set out to describe the pain experiences of successive cholecystectomy patients in a large teaching hospital, using three different pain measures and self-reports of anxiety and pain-related attitudes and experiences. Nurses and doctors in surgical wards provided parallel information about their pain-related attitudes and practices. A substantial proportion of patients suffered significant postoperative pain, apparently related to their fear of addiction and reluctance to ask for extra analgesic help. Nurses were more convinced than patients that patients should have more control of their own pain relief. Barriers to effective pain relief are seen to include cognitive, attitudinal and systemic factors; some suggestions are offered for reform of relevant hospital practices.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0025035558&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/0022-3999(90)90029-4
DO - 10.1016/0022-3999(90)90029-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 1977905
AN - SCOPUS:0025035558
SN - 0022-3999
VL - 34
SP - 543
EP - 552
JO - Journal of Psychosomatic Research
JF - Journal of Psychosomatic Research
IS - 5
ER -