SHAPING ATTITUDES TO POSTOPERATIVE PAIN RELIEF - THE ROLE OF THE ACUTE PAIN TEAM

Postoperative pain relief is often inadequate. Ignorance and misconcep tions about opioids by ward staff contribute to this poor management. The introduction of acute pain teams has done much to improve pain rel ief for patients. It may also have contributed to changes in attitudes and knowledge of medical and nursing staff: We questioned 48 doctors and nurses on their knowledge and beliefs about postoperative pain rel ief Staff members were questioned on two units, one with access to an acute pain team and one without. Over half those on the unit wing trad itional postoperative care thought patients did not receive adequate p ain relief (58%). In comparison, only one respondent from the unit wit h the pain team thought this was the case (P < 0.001). More staff memb ers that had experience of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) were opt imistic about its benefits than those in the unit with no experience; they were also less concerned about possible side effects. Only one re spondent on the unit using PCA thought it carried a risk of drug depen dence, compared to over half (55%) of those on the unit with no experi ence in this technique (P < 0.001). Over two-thirds of staff familiar with PCA thought nursing workload had decreased. Acute pain teams have an important role in educating ward staff The impact of establishing such teams on staff knowledge and attitudes needs further study to ens ure that they can carry out this role most effectively.