title: [Survey of pain after ambulatory surgery: An internet-based instrument].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pain after surgery continues to be undermanaged. Studies and initiatives aiming to improve the management of postoperative pain are growing; however, most studies focus on inpatients and pain on the first day after surgery. The management of postoperative pain after ambulatory surgery and for several days thereafter is not yet a major focus. One reason is the low return rate of the questionnaires in the ambulatory sector. This article reports the development and feasibility of a web-based electronic data collection system to examine pain and pain-related outcome on predefined postoperative days after ambulatory surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective pilot study 127 patients scheduled for ambulatory surgery were asked to participate in a survey to evaluate aspects related to pain after ambulatory surgery. The data survey was divided in (1) a preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative part and (2) a postoperative internet-based electronic questionnaire which was sent via e-mail link to the patient on days 1, 3 and 7 after surgery. A software was developed using a PHP-based platform to send e-mails and retrieve the data after web-based entries via a local browser. Feasibility, internet-based hitches and compliance were assessed by an additional telephone call after day 7.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 100 patients (50 female) between 18 and 71 years (mean 39.1 ± 12.7 years) were included in the pilot study. Return rates of the electronic questionnaires were 86% (days 3 and 7) and 91% (day 1 after surgery). All 3 electronic questionnaires were answered by 82% of patients. Aspects influencing the return rate of questionnaires were work status but not age, gender, education level and preoperative pain. Telephone interviews were performed with 81 patients and revealed high operability of the internet-based survey without any major problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The user-friendly feasibility and operability of this internet-based electronic data survey system explain the high compliance and return rate of electronic questionnaires by patients at home after ambulatory surgery. This survey tool therefore provides unique opportunities to evaluate and improve postoperative pain management after ambulatory surgery.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Anästhesiologie, operative Intensivmedizin und Schmerztherapie, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Gebäude A1, 48149, Münster, Deutschland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schwarze
authors.affiliation: , Bochum, Deutschland.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zenz
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Anästhesiologie, operative Intensivmedizin und Schmerztherapie, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Gebäude A1, 48149, Münster, Deutschland.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Orlowski
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Anästhesiologie, operative Intensivmedizin und Schmerztherapie, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Gebäude A1, 48149, Münster, Deutschland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wempe
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Anästhesiologie, operative Intensivmedizin und Schmerztherapie, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Gebäude A1, 48149, Münster, Deutschland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Aken
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Schmerzmedizin, Berufsgenossenschaftliches Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Deutschland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zahn
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Schmerzmedizin, Berufsgenossenschaftliches Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Deutschland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Anästhesiologie, operative Intensivmedizin und Schmerztherapie, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Gebäude A1, 48149, Münster, Deutschland. pogatzki@anit.uni-muenster.de.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Pogatzki-Zahn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D034742:Electronic Mail; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012985:Software Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Acute pain; Ambulatory care; Health services research; Pain, postoperative; Questionnaires