Postoperative pain: a comparison of adolescent inpatient and day patient experiences

This three-year study investigated the experience of postoperative pain and its management Following elective surgery in an adolescent population aged 12-18 years (n = 351) in 5 NHS trusts. In addition to the adolescents, one parent of each adolescent and a range of health professionals including su rgeons, anaesthetists and registered nurses were interviewed concerning the ir views on acute pain in adolescent patients. The results presented in thi s paper are those related to the management of day and inpatient surgery in this adolescent population. Data were collected preoperatively and postope ratively (days 1 and 3) using semi-structured interviews, telephone intervi ews, self-completion questionnaires and standardised tools to measure pain intensity (Adolescent Pediatric Pain Tool), psychological adjustment to ado lescence (Offer Self-image Questionnaire-Revised) and emotional state (Hosp ital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Day cases were discharged on the day of surgery while most inpatients were discharged on the first postoperative d ay. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.