Assessment of the conformity of analgesics prescribed in postoperative patients: a cross-sectional audit

Abstract

Introduction: Post-operative pain management is crucial and patients can experience moderate to severe pain after surgery. The aims of this study were to assess the conformity to guidelines of analgesic prescription after major surgeries and evaluate the different predictors of non-conformity. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 497 hospitalized patients undergoing major surgeries between November 2018 and June 2019 using the data from their medical charts. Results: In total, 227 patients had a previous medical history. A significant relationship was noted between conformity, age, and length of stay where patients older than 65 had a higher degree of non-conformity compared to younger patients. Almost 90% of the analgesic were conforming in terms of dosage, treatment duration, choice and contraindication. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of adequate pain management and its influence on the quality of life of patients, as well as the importance of age, comorbidities and pain intensity as predictors to reach a higher level of conformity.