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CANADIAN POST-SURGICAL PAIN SURVEY

¹ Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON;
² Axia Research, Hamilton, ON;
³ Pharmacia Canada Inc, Mississauga, ON

INTRODUCTION

The objective was to survey the general population of Canada regarding post-operative pain experiences and medications, and to determine predictors of satisfaction with post-operative pain medication.

METHODS

General population subjects from across Canada who had surgery in the previous three years were eligible for the survey. The survey instrument was based on the American Pain Society guidelines questionnaire (1) and previously published general population pain surveys.(2,3) It focused on: pain levels while in the surgical facility and at home, pain medication administration, efficacy, adverse events, satisfaction and counseling, and attitudes to pain and pain management.

RESULTS

Pain was experienced by 68% of inpatients and 48% of outpatients while in the surgical facility. For those who experienced pain, 68% of inpatients and 29% of outpatients reported that their highest level of pain was severe or extreme; 37% of inpatients and 18% of outpatients reported that their average pain level was severe or extreme. In the two weeks post-discharge, three-quarters of inpatients and outpatients experienced pain. The proportion of patients who reported severe or extreme pain decreased to 32% for inpatients but rose to 38% for outpatients.

Complete or a lot of pain relief was experienced by the majority of inpatients and outpatients, both in the surgical facility and at home. Patients were satisfied with pain medication in both settings. Adverse events were experienced by approximately one quarter of survey subjects.

Satisfaction with pain medications was higher if pre-surgical counseling was received. Satisfaction was lower with increased levels of pain, for patients who waited after asking for pain medication, for those worried about pain before their surgery, and for those who experienced side effects from medication.

DISCUSSION

Severe or extreme pain levels were experienced by a high number of surgical patients. Improvements could be made to patients= post-surgical pain experience in Canada.

REFERENCES

JAMA 1995; 274: 1874–80.[Medline]
Anesthesiology 1995; 83: 1090–4.[Medline]
Am Soc Anes, October 2001.

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