Factors Related to Patient Satisfaction on Postoperative
Epidural Analgesia
Banchobporn Songthamwat MD*, Prok Laosuwan MD*, Waraporn Kanson MD*, Monson Ussawanopkiat MD*,
Phatthanaphol Engsusophon MD*, Somrat Charuluxananan MD*
Affiliation :
* Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital,
Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : Postoperative pain is the most common problem during perioperative period. An inadequate postoperative
pain control causes numerous undesirable consequences. Patient satisfaction, an indicator reflecting quality of care in
hospitals, depends on the management of pain.
Objective : To evaluate the factors affecting patient satisfaction after epidural analgesia in a tertiary care center.
Material and Method: Two hundred sixty-two patients who met the criterion in Acute Pain Service at King Chulalongkorn
Memorial Hospital between October 2013 and September 2014 were enrolled in the present prospective cohort study.
Demographic data, perioperative management related to analgesia, numerical pain score (NPS = 0 to 10), patient satisfaction
score (0 to 10; 0 = worst, 10 = best), side effects, and problems resulting from epidural analgesia were recorded.
Results : Two hundred thirty-seven patients (90.5%) rated overall satisfaction score greater than 7. The median (range)
overall satisfaction score of receiving epidural analgesia was 9 (3 to 10). The factors associated with increasing satisfaction
score were duration of indwelling epidural catheter at three days or less, p = 0.022, OR = 0.13 (0.023 to 0.750), and low
pain score, p = 0.009, OR = 0.03 (0.003 to 0.426). The factor related to dissatisfaction was motor weakness of lower
extremities, p = 0.012, OR = 15.05 (1.815 to 124.723).
Conclusion : Majority of patients reported high level of satisfaction of pain management relating to epidural analgesia.
Decreasing duration of indwelling epidural catheter and low pain score promoted satisfaction whereas motor weakness
affected patient dissatisfaction.
Keywords : Epidural analgesia, Patient satisfaction, Postoperative pain management, Risk factor
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