title: Self-administered versus nurse-administered epidural analgesia after cesarean section.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare two methods of administering analgesia by the epidural route after cesarean sections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quasi-experimental.
  
  
  METHODS
  The postpartum area of a large community hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty women undergoing planned cesarean sections with epidural anesthesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The control group received continuous epidural analgesia with nurse-administered boluses and the experimental group with self-administered boluses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pain control, side effects from medication, amount of medication required, postoperative activity levels, and patient satisfaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects receiving continuous epidural analgesia with self-administered boluses of analgesic used significantly less fentanyl and fewer supplemental intravenous pain medications than subjects receiving continuous epidural analgesia with nurse-administered boluses of analgesic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subjects in self-administered group required less pain medication than subjects in nurse-administered group.
authors.affiliation: Northlake Regional Medical Center, Tucker, Georgia.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Gaines
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Hauber
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing*; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D005283:Fentanyl