Observational study of post-operative pain control before and after the implementation of a clinical practice guideline for postoperative pain management

© 2019 Elsevier España, S.L.U. Background and objectives: Postoperative pain is common in hospitals. Clinical practice guidelines for the control of postoperative pain (CPGPP) have been developed to improve its treatment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and intensity of postoperative pain and analgesic norms, before and after the implementation of a CPGPP. Material and method: An observational study was carried out that included 2 cross-sectional studies in 2 separate periods, before and after implementation of the CPGPP. Adult patients postoperated on the first day of admission in the surgery plants were included. Demographic, clinical and pharmacological variables were collected from clinical histories. The intensity of the pain was collected through individual interviews with patients. Results: We included 306 patients in the first period and 317 in the second. There were no differences between patients’ demographic and clinical variables and the 2 periods. The prevalence of pain was 92% (IC 95%: 87%-95%) in the first period and 77% (IC 95%: 72%-82%) in the second (P < 0.05). The most frequent pain in the last 24 hours was moderate or intense in 53% (IC 95%: 48%-59%) of patients in the first period and in 33% (IC 95%: 28%-38%) of the patients in the second (P < 0.05). Conclusions: After the implementation of the CPGPP, a decrease in the prevalence and intensity of pain in patients was observed, but without reaching an optimal level. Continued pain training and assessment measures are therefore necessary for proper pain treatment over time.