Other Titles

The Aftermath of Operative Prodedures: Research Pertaining to Operative Outcomes [Session]

Abstract

Session presented on Sunday, November 8, 2015:

Introduction: Post-operative pain has been a problem over the years for many countries including Ghana. Thus patients continue to experience moderate to severe post-operative pain.

Aim: The study aimed to understand the factors that contribute to ineffective post-operative pain management at two hospitals in Accra, Ghana.

Method: A focused ethnography was employed using multiple data collection methods such as individual interviews, observation, and documentary review. The participants included patients (13), nurses (11), surgeons (3), pharmacists (1), and anaesthetists (1). Sixteen participant observations with partial immersion were conducted and 44 nurses' documentation of care was reviewed. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants and the sample size was determined by data saturation. Content analysis was used to analyse the data generated and the NVivo 9 software was used to manage the data.

Findings: It was realized that multiple factors contributed to ineffective post-operative pain management. These factors were related to the individual, the health system and national policies. The individual factors included socio-cultural, psychological, and inadequate knowledge. Health system factors were negative attitude, poor supervision and team work. National factors included lack of policies and unavailability of opioids.

Conclusion: The study concluded that a multidisciplinary and multi-sectorial approach is required to enhance post-operative pain management in a resource-limited clinical context such as Ghana. The need for a context appropriate clinical guideline was highlighted.

Description

43rd Biennial Convention 2015 Theme: Serve Locally, Transform Regionally, Lead Globally.

Authors

Lydia Aziato

Author Details

Lydia Aziato, RN, FWACN, ONDEC

Sigma Membership

Tau Lambda at-Large

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

N/A

Research Approach

N/A

Keywords:

Post-Operative Pain, Ethnography, Qualitative Research

Conference Name

43rd Biennial Convention

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Conference Year

2015

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Share

COinS
 

Realities of post-operative pain management in Ghana: Evidence from method and participant triangulation

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Session presented on Sunday, November 8, 2015:

Introduction: Post-operative pain has been a problem over the years for many countries including Ghana. Thus patients continue to experience moderate to severe post-operative pain.

Aim: The study aimed to understand the factors that contribute to ineffective post-operative pain management at two hospitals in Accra, Ghana.

Method: A focused ethnography was employed using multiple data collection methods such as individual interviews, observation, and documentary review. The participants included patients (13), nurses (11), surgeons (3), pharmacists (1), and anaesthetists (1). Sixteen participant observations with partial immersion were conducted and 44 nurses' documentation of care was reviewed. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants and the sample size was determined by data saturation. Content analysis was used to analyse the data generated and the NVivo 9 software was used to manage the data.

Findings: It was realized that multiple factors contributed to ineffective post-operative pain management. These factors were related to the individual, the health system and national policies. The individual factors included socio-cultural, psychological, and inadequate knowledge. Health system factors were negative attitude, poor supervision and team work. National factors included lack of policies and unavailability of opioids.

Conclusion: The study concluded that a multidisciplinary and multi-sectorial approach is required to enhance post-operative pain management in a resource-limited clinical context such as Ghana. The need for a context appropriate clinical guideline was highlighted.