Pain coping strategies and their effectiveness in managing and reducing pain in patients after planned surgical procedures: an observational study
Pain coping strategies and their effectiveness in managing and reducing pain in patients after planned surgical procedures: an observational study

Summary/Abstract: Background: Postoperative pain control is critical because it prevents the negative effects of untreated pain and reduces the development of postoperative complications. The experience of postoperative pain and the choice of coping strategies after surgery are very different for each individual. Therefore, staff must take a more individualized approach to pain management to optimize postoperative pain relief.Aim of the study: The primary study objective was to evaluate pain management strategies and their effectiveness in managing and reducing pain in patients after planned surgical procedures.Material and Methods: The observational study was conducted at the Department of General Surgery, EuroMediCare St. Roch Specialized Hospital, Ozimek, from November 2019 to February 2020. The study included 100 post-elective surgical procedure patients who completed the Pain Coping Strategies Questionnaire, the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, and a questionnaire created by the author.Results: Analysis revealed that the patient aged affected pain coping strategies scores (p = 0.035), while place of residence influenced the use of ignoring strategies(p = 0.031) and increased behavioral activity (p = 0.014). There was a correlation between pain management and the use of diverting attention (r = 0.236; p = 0.018), ignoring experiences (r = 0.386; p = 0.000), declaration of coping (r = 0.384; p = 0.000), increased behavioral activity (r = 0.335; p = 0.001) and between the ability to reduce pain and the use of ignoring strategies (r = 0.325; p = 0.001), declaration of coping (r = 0.244; p = 0.014) and increased behavioral activity (r = 0.271; p = 0.006). Moreover, catastrophizing strategies affected the ability to control (r = - 0.273; p = 0.006) and reduce pain (r = - 0.265; p = 0.008).Conclusions: Age and place of residence should be taken into account when planning analgesic therapy for post-surgery patients, as those over 60 were less likely to use a declared pain management strategy, and patients living in small towns and rural areas were significantly less likely to manage and reduce pain. The use of a catastrophizing strategy determined a lower ability to control and reduce pain.

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