Assessment of the Quality of Nursing Care of Postoperative Pain in Patients Undergoing Vascular Procedures

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of nursing care of postoperative pain management in patients who underwent vascular procedures.

Design: A survey using patient questionnaires.

Methods: The sample was composed of 100 patients, aged 52 to 86 years, admitted to the Clinic of Cardiac and Vascular Surgery, University Clinical Centre, Gdansk, Poland. The study included the use of an interview questionnaire, that is,.e. a standardized research tool-the Strategic and Clinical Quality Indicators in Postoperative Pain Management scale and a questionnaire designed to record sociodemographic characteristics.

Findings: Analysis of the data indicated that the most numerous group of patients were men (80%). The total mean score obtained with the Strategic and Clinical Quality Indicators in Postoperative Pain Management scale was 59.2 points (range, 14 to 70) meaning that the high quality of nursing care in each area was not provided. The results of this research revealed areas for improvement in postoperative pain management on the subscales: communication (12.9 points), action (15.3 points), and environment (12.5 points).

Conclusions: The overall level of quality of nursing care in terms of postoperative pain management as reported by patients after vascular procedures was not fully satisfying, and nursing care should improve. This indicates the need to educate nurses in postoperative pain management, its monitoring and prophylaxis, and communication techniques with patients. Our study indicates that gender, place of residence, education level, and satisfaction with pain management influence the assessment of the quality of care.

Keywords: nursing care; pain management; postoperative care; quality of care.