Abstract:
Background: Postoperative pain requires multifaceted management because it affects the
patient's quality of life and recovery. Non-pharmacological methods could contribute to the
unresolved postoperative pain management in assisting nurses‟ routine care and reducing the
need for medication, but little is known about the level of its management practices, contributory
and hindering factors. Hence, this study aimed to assess non-pharmacological post-operative
pain management practice and associated factors among nurses working in public hospitals of
Eastern Ethiopia from June 20 to August 20, 2022.
Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 330 nurses currently working
in post-operative units of selected public hospitals by survey method. A pretested structured self administered questionnaire and observational checklist was used to collect data. Data was
entered into Epi-data version 3.1 software and then exported to Stata MP 17 for analysis.
Bivariable and multivariable ordinal logistic regression with crude and adjusted odds ratios along
with the 95% confidence interval was computed and interpreted accordingly. Finally,
significance was set at a p-value < 0.05.
Results: Out of 320 respondents, 86 (26.9%); 95%CI (22.1–32.1%) practice nonpharmacological
post-operative pain management always. Having BSc and above educational level (AOR=2.79,
95%CI:1.30 - 5.98), attending training (AOR=2.69, 95%CI:1.51 - 4.82), good knowledge
(AOR=2.79,95%CI:1.51 - 5.15), having favorable attitude (AOR=4.87, 95%CI:2.61- 9.08), and
having administrative support (AOR=2.75 95%CI:1.45- 5.22) were significantly and positively
associated with nonpharmacological post-operative pain management practice.
Conclusion: In this study, non-pharmacological post-operative pain management among nurses
was low. Continuing education, training and administrative support should be considered for
nurses to enhance their practice regarding nonpharmacological post-operative pain managemen
