Journal of advanced nursing
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Adequate pain relief during the postoperative period has long been recognized as difficult to accomplish. The reasons for this are mentioned in a brief review of methods of pain control, and an overview of the detrimental effects of acute pain is given. ⋯ It was also noted that only 30-35% of the maximum doses of analgesics prescribed were actually given within the immediate postoperative period. The possible reasons for these findings are discussed.
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Recent evidence suggests that postoperative pain is poorly controlled and it is reported that nearly 75% of hospitalized patients failed to receive adequate pain relief. It was hypothesized that there was no difference between expected and experienced pain and that pain scores on the first postoperative day would be 'low'. Factors affecting the management of pain were identified using a patient questionnaire. ⋯ The nurse did not play a key role in the preoperative information given to the patient. Patients experienced 'worsened' pain in the morning and evening. Nurses questioning patients about their pain often failed to identify those in pain.