PERCEIVED RISKS OF POSTOPERATIVE ANALGESIA

This survey aimed to determine what type of information patients want about the risks of postoperative pain management and whether this corr esponded to the information that doctors and nurses wished to provide. Seventy-four patients scheduled for elective surgery, 50 nurses and 4 8 doctors completed a questionnaire asking about perceived risks of an algesia, level of acceptable risk and information that should be provi ded to patients. Compared to doctors and nurses, patients underestimat ed the risks associated with postoperative pain relief, except for the risk of drug addiction, which they rated higher. Ninety-one per cent of patients wanted information about the side effects of analgesia. Th e preferred means of obtaining this information was by discussion with their surgeon or anaesthetist. Doctors were willing to accept a great er risk of minor side effects to achieve excellent pain relief than we re patients. In contrast, patients were willing to accept a greater ri sk of serious side effects. The results obtained in this survey will f acilitate the preparation of guidelines for obtaining informed consent from patients to receive postoperative analgesia.