[Maternal satisfaction with the quality of epidural analgesia for pain relief in labor].
OBJECTIVE
To measure patient satisfaction with epidural analgesia in labor and to analyze the sociodemographic characteristics of the obstetric population treated in our hospital.


METHODS
We administered an anonymous questionnaire in July and December 2003 to all patients who received epidural analgesia during labor to obtain information on the intensity of pain before analgesia and the efficacy of this procedure.


RESULTS
A total of 1067 questionnaires were returned. Of the patients who responded to the questionnaire, 91.3% were satisfied with the process of epidural anesthesia, 93.8% stated that they would recommend the technique used in our hospital, and 94% responded that they would request the technique again in our hospital. Spanish nationals accounted for 74.8% of the surveyed patients; the remaining 25.2% were from other countries-mainly from Central and South America (18% of the total). Before administration of epidural analgesia, 23.3% of Spanish primiparas defined labor pain as severe compared to 40.7% of foreign primiparas (P<.001). Of the multiparas, 212% of Spanish patients described the pain as severe compared to 40.4% of foreign women (P<.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The overall level of satisfaction with the process of epidural analgesia is very high and was not influenced by sociodemographic factors. Labor pain is perceived as being more intense by non-Spanish women.
Gredilla
E
E
Servicio de Anestesiología y Reanimación, Hospital Universitario Maternal La Paz, Madrid. ilegredilla@hotmail.com
Pérez Ferrer
A
A
Martínez
B
B
Alonso
E
E
Díez
J
J
Gilsanz
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000352:Africa, Northern / Q000208:ethnology; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000523:psychology*; D016362:Analgesia, Obstetrical / Q000523:psychology*; D018912:Arabs / Q000523:psychology; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain