Nonpharmacological pain management methods used by post-operative patients: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives: Surgical patients use many nonpharmacological methods to manage pain after surgery. Knowing these methods and relieving the patient’s surgical pain will increase the quality of care. This study aims to examine the nonpharmacological pain management methods used by surgical patients and identify significant relationships between gender and participants’ clinical characteristics. Method: The study was conducted using a cross-sectional and descriptive design with the participation of 225 patients in a public hospital in eastern Turkey. Data collection was done using the patient identification and clinical characteristics form. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were used in the analysis of the data. Results: A significant correlation was determined between the patients’ postoperative pain level and gender (p<0.01). A significant correlation was also found between feeling pain relief after the nonpharmacological method and gender (p<0.05). It was determined that there was a significant relationship between the nurse’s suggestion of a nonpharmacological method and gender (p<0.01). Conclusion: It was determined that the majority of the patients used more than one nonpharmacological method (massage, music, prayer, deep breathing etc.) and stated that their pain decreased after the nonpharmacological method. Therefore, more interventional nursing studies should be made to show the effectiveness of nonpharmacological methods in pain management.