2025/08/27 by BONSAANA, Gilbert Batieka
#Medicine and Health Sciences #Social and Behavioral Sciences
paper · doi:10.17605/osf.io/cmk4s
Abstract: Effective postoperative pain management is vital for recovery, yet often undertreated in ophthalmic surgery, impacting patient comfort and satisfaction. Patient perspectives on pain management barriers and improvements are crucial for guiding quality improvement but remain underexplored. This study examined the pain experiences, treatment adequacy, satisfaction, perceived barriers, and suggested improvements of postoperative ophthalmic patients. In a cross-sectional survey conducted as part of a quality improvement initiative, 312 postoperative patients at the Tamale Teaching Hospital Ophthalmology Department (Ghana) provided data on pain intensity, analgesic use, satisfaction, and perceived barriers and improvements. The mean age was 54.8 years. Nearly all patients (98%) had heard of analgesics, but only 55% demonstrated adequate knowledge of analgesics. Postoperatively, 61% received analgesics; however, only 33% received multimodal analgesia. Pain was common (80% reported pain), though moderate-to-severe pain occurred in 40%, and pain was effectively managed in 60% by health care professionals. Slightly over half (53.5%) were satisfied with pain management, and 30.8% were very satisfied, whereas 15.7% were dissatisfied. The most frequently reported barriers to adequate pain control were inadequate information about analgesics, poor staff–patient communication, insufficient analgesia, and staff disbelief in patients' pain. Patients correspondingly prioritized improvements such as better analgesic education, ensuring adequate analgesic provision, improved staff communication, and validation of patient pain reports. These findings reveal critical gaps in ophthalmic postoperative pain management, specifically in patient education, communication, and the provision of analgesics. Incorporating patient input to address these deficits—through improved education, communication, and adequate analgesia—could significantly enhance postoperative pain outcomes and patient satisfaction. Perspective: This study highlights the vital role of patient feedback in improving postoperative pain management. Clinicians and health systems can address patient-identified gaps, such as poor communication, inadequate education, and insufficient analgesia, to enhance pain control and patient satisfaction, ultimately leading to improved quality of care in ophthalmic surgery.