Does take-home analgesia improve postoperative pain after elective day case surgery? A comparison of hospital vs parent-supplied analgesia

Summary Background More children are undergoing same‐day surgery. While advances have been made in pediatric pain management, there have been few studies addressing pain management in the home (Br J Anaesth, 82, 1999 and 319). We wished to investigate whether issuing parents with take‐home analgesia...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Pediatric anesthesia Vol. 23; no. 5; pp. 385 - 389
Main Authors:	Hegarty, Mary, Calder, Alyson, Davies, Kylie, Shave, Margaret, Christiansen, Elaine, Meyer, Tessa, von Ungern-Sternberg, Britta S.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	France Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-05-2013 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
Subjects:	Ambulatory Surgical Procedures - methods analgesia Analgesics - therapeutic use Analgesics, Opioid - therapeutic use anesthesia Antiemetics - therapeutic use Child Child Behavior Child, Preschool day case surgery Drug Combinations Elective Surgical Procedures Female Hospitals Humans Infant Male pain management Pain Measurement - drug effects Pain, Postoperative - drug therapy Pain, Postoperative - psychology Parents Patient Education as Topic Patient Satisfaction pediatric Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting - epidemiology Surveys and Questionnaires
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Summary:	Summary Background More children are undergoing same‐day surgery. While advances have been made in pediatric pain management, there have been few studies addressing pain management in the home (Br J Anaesth, 82, 1999 and 319). We wished to investigate whether issuing parents with take‐home analgesia would improve postoperative pain scores and/or parental satisfaction following hospital discharge. Methods Two hundred children, and their parents, attending for day case surgery at our institution were randomized into two groups. One group received advice regarding the management of postoperative pain and were given a pack containing discharge medications: group ‘dispensed’. The other group received the same advice, but did not receive any medication: group ‘advised’. Telephone interviews were conducted to assess pain scores, PONV, functional activity, analgesia requirements, and satisfaction rates. Results Data were available for 181 patients (median age, 4 years; range, 0–12 years): 89 children in group ‘dispensed’ and 92 children in group ‘advised’. Postoperative instructions were followed by 86% in group ‘advised’ and 89% in group ‘dispensed’ (P = 0.68). Although all parents received analgesia advice, only 85/181 (48%) recalled the information. Rates for no/mild pain and moderate/severe pain were similar between the two groups: 59% (group ‘advised’) vs 62% (group ‘dispensed’) and 41% (group ‘advised’) vs 38% (group ‘dispensed’) (P = 0.78). Discussion Our study did not show any differences in the incidence of pain/parental satisfaction between the two groups. Analgesia advice given to parents was poorly retained, suggesting that other methods for disseminating information should be considered.
Bibliography:	ark:/67375/WNG-FMZV9ZW4-V Department of Pharmacy ArticleID:PAN12077 istex:1473B52936D531AA1BAACBF72135820F0A880996 Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-News-1 ObjectType-Feature-3 content type line 23
ISSN:	1155-5645 1460-9592
DOI:	10.1111/pan.12077