Effect of Preoperative Information About Pain on Postoperative Pain Experience and Patient Satisfaction

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Patients are randomized into 2 groups. The intervention group which receives preoperative counseling about pain and a control group which does not receive this counseling. The patients are followed up looking at pain scores and pain experience and satisfaction with pain management for 2 days post operative.

Detailed Description
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All patients admitted for elective upper and lower limb surgery, will be expected to have a preoperative visit by the anesthetic provider on the day before surgery. Those who will have consented to participate in the study will be randomized to either the intervention or control group. The intervention group will receive specific preoperative information about pain in private by the principal investigator in addition to the preoperative assessment. The following variables will be recorded preoperatively: socio-demographics (age, gender, tribe, education level) and vital signs (pulse rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation). A Numerical pain score will be explained to patient before it is recorded preoperatively. The patient will also be informed that the pain scores will be repeated after surgery at (someone will take the pain scores again after surgery at) 0, 6, 12, 24, 48hours or till discharge if less than 48hours. In addition the pulse rate, number of analgesic intravenous/ intramuscular injections or tablets needed/or given will be recorded. Assessed pain will be classified as no pain (1-3), pain (4-10) but also as no pain (0), mild (1-3), moderate (4-6) and severe pain (7-10). Intra operatively, the anaesthetic technique (general or regional), medications given, duration of surgery will be recorded in) the questionnaires.

Official Title
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Effect of Preoperative Information About Pain on Postoperative Pain Experience and Patient Satisfaction in Adult Elective Orthopedic Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Conditions
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Post Operative Pain

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: preoperative information about pain


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age of 18 years and above Elective orthopedic surgery patients admitted to orthopedic/trauma ward Mulago hospital Patient who gives consent Exclusion Criteria: Patients with chronic pain not related to the surgery they are to undergo Patients with bone cancer Inability to speak or hear (deaf or dumb) Previously recruited but comes for re-surgery for same condition

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Info<br>In this arm the patients are counseled preoperatively about post operative pain. Specific information about post operative pain which includes both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments, complications of pain and benefits of good pain management. This is in addition to the routine care provided | Other: preoperative information about pain<br>* It is information about analgesics, post operative pain, complications of pain, benefits of pain treatment and non pharmacologic treatment options.<br>|
| No Intervention: No info<br>These patients are in the control group. They are left to receive only the routine preoperative care as made available to them while on ward. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Post operative pain experience (yes or no answer) | Patients subjectively tell you if their pain has been adequately controlled with a yes or no answer | 2 days | 
| Patient satisfaction (answer yes or no) | Is the patient happy with how the pain has been managed answer yes or no | 2 days | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Time to ambulation | when does the patient start doing some activity with the operated limb less than or greater than 3 days | 3 days |