POST-OPERATIVE PAIN MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG NURSES WORKING IN GOVERNMENTAL HOSPITALS OF HARARI REGION AND DIRE DAWA CITY ADMINISTRATION, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

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