[Postoperative pain management on surgical wards in one university hospital: short- and medium-term effects of a quality assurance program].
OBJECTIVE
Evaluation of the short- and medium-term impact of a postoperative pain management quality assurance programme in a university hospital.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
In 1998: chart review and survey of patients and professionals. Principal corrective actions: support for evaluation and tracking of potentially painful surgical procedures, prescription form including an emergency treatment plan, distribution of a set of guidelines. Evaluation was identical during the quality assurance programme and three years later, in 2003.


RESULTS
In 2003, information regarding postoperative analgesia was received by 70% of patients and understood by 99% (50% in 1998, p<0.001). Sixty-two percent of patients were totally satisfied with their doctors in 2003 vs 75% in 1998 (NS). Pain was documented in 63.1% of charts in 2003, vs 10% in 1998 (p<0.001). Hundred percent of doctors were aware of the analgesic protocols in 2003 vs 69% in 1998 (p<0.02). In 2003, the treatment of analgesic side effects was known by 86% of doctors vs 29% in 1998 and these effects were looked for by 57% of caregivers in 2003 vs 11% in 1998 (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Management of postoperative pain has progress significantly and the quality indicators used for evaluation have improved. Patients are better informed, which raises standards. The programme will be extended to all other surgical departments of the hospital, under the authority of CLUDS (Committee for Pain Control and Palliative Care).
Cornet
C
C
Service d'anesthésie-réanimation, hôpital Central, 29, avenue du Maréchal-de-Lattre-de-Tassigny, CO n(o) 34, 54035 Nancy cedex, France. c.cornet@chu-nancy.fr
Empereur
F
F
Heck
M
M
Gabriel
G
G
Commun
N
N
Laxenaire
M-C
MC
Bouaziz
H
H
Mertes
P-M
PM
D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care
D000700:Analgesics