Abstract:
Background: Post-operative pain is a type of acute pain that presents in a surgical patient because of
a pre-existing surgical procedure or a combination of disease-related and procedure related resources.
Ineffective post-operative pain management can result in tangible and intangible costs. Its
management has pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches but pharmacological
interventions were known to be used mainly. Though its management is an essential component in
the provision of quality care, little is known about the scope of its management practices,
contributory and hindering factors.
Objective: To assess post-operative pain management practices and associated factors among nurses
working in governmental Hospitals of Harari Region and Dire Dawa city administration, Eastern
Ethiopia, from March 03 to 30, 2019.
Methods and Materials: Institution based quantitative cross-sectional study design was employed
among randomly selected 422 nurses. Data were collected by pretested structured self-administered
questionnaire and observation was done on 42 nurses (10% of the sample) while they are providing
post-operative pain management interventions. Collected data were checked, coded and entered into
Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable
logistic regression was done to identify independent factors associated with post-operative pain
management practices.
Results: Out of 402 participants33.6%, 95% CI: (29.4, 37.6) of nurses had good practices regarding
post-operative pain management. On observation, the proportion of nurses who had good postoperative
pain management practice was 28.6%. Not having an experience of being head nurse
[AOR=7.42, 95% CI:(3.15, 17.45)], attending training [AOR=2.15, 95% CI: (1.03, 4.48)], having
willingness of the patients’ to report their pain [AOR=5.15, 95% CI: (1.92, 13.79)], having good
knowledge [AOR=2.43, 95% CI: (1.25, 4.71)], and having favorable attitude [AOR=2.20, 95% CI:
(1.10, 4.42)], were significantly and positively associated with good post-operative pain management
practices.
Conclusion and Recommendations: nurses’ practices regarding post-operative pain
management was poor, that is only one third 135(33.6%) of the nurses had a good practice.
Among factors, an experience of being head nurse, attendance of training, patients’ willingness to
report their pain, knowledge, and attitude were significantly associated with post-operative pain
management practice. Hospital managers should organize and provide continuous training for nurses
