Pain vs Comfort Scores After Caesarean Section
Pain vs Comfort Scores After Caesarean Section
Figure 2 shows the participant trial flow. Three hundred and thirty-seven women were assessed for eligibility. Of these women, 37 were excluded as they were non-English speaking and required an interpreter. The remaining 300 women were randomized and included in the analyses. No women withdrew from the study after randomization and there were no losses to follow-up.
(Enlarge Image)
Figure 2.
Participant flow diagram.
There were no clinically significant differences between the two groups with regard to patient characteristics and perioperative anaesthesia and analgesia management (Table 2).
Table 3 shows VNRS and VAS scores at rest and movement in women according to group allocation. Patient perceptions of the postoperative wound and bother scores are also shown.
In Group P, 84 of the 111 women (75.7%) who initially reported that they had pain, also reported later that they were comfortable when specifically asked. Similarly, in Group C, 112 (79.4%) of the 141 women who stated that they were comfortable also reported pain when specifically asked. However, only 18 women in Group C reporting pain (15.1%) stated that they were bothered by it. In contrast in Group P, 61 (55%) of the 111 women, who reported they had pain, were bothered by it. Seven women in Group P (4.7%) and four women in Group C (2.7%) who reported that they were comfortable requested additional analgesia.
Women allocated to Group P were more likely to prefer being asked about their pain than those in the comfort group (RR 1.28, 1.03, 1.60, P=0.026). In Group P, 75 women (50%) preferred to be asked pain scores and 38 women (25.3%) preferred to be asked for comfort scores. This difference was not seen in Group C, 58 women (38.6%) vs 54 (36.0%). Of the 300 women recruited, 127 women were undecided, had no preference, or provided no reason for their preference to be asked for their pain scores or comfort scores. Some patients commented that they preferred to be asked their pain scores rather than comfort scores because it was easier to rate and they were more familiar with the scale. Women preferring the comfort scale commented that 'comfort was more important than pain' or 'the word pain reminds me of my pain'.
Results
Figure 2 shows the participant trial flow. Three hundred and thirty-seven women were assessed for eligibility. Of these women, 37 were excluded as they were non-English speaking and required an interpreter. The remaining 300 women were randomized and included in the analyses. No women withdrew from the study after randomization and there were no losses to follow-up.
(Enlarge Image)
Figure 2.
Participant flow diagram.
There were no clinically significant differences between the two groups with regard to patient characteristics and perioperative anaesthesia and analgesia management (Table 2).
Table 3 shows VNRS and VAS scores at rest and movement in women according to group allocation. Patient perceptions of the postoperative wound and bother scores are also shown.
In Group P, 84 of the 111 women (75.7%) who initially reported that they had pain, also reported later that they were comfortable when specifically asked. Similarly, in Group C, 112 (79.4%) of the 141 women who stated that they were comfortable also reported pain when specifically asked. However, only 18 women in Group C reporting pain (15.1%) stated that they were bothered by it. In contrast in Group P, 61 (55%) of the 111 women, who reported they had pain, were bothered by it. Seven women in Group P (4.7%) and four women in Group C (2.7%) who reported that they were comfortable requested additional analgesia.
Women allocated to Group P were more likely to prefer being asked about their pain than those in the comfort group (RR 1.28, 1.03, 1.60, P=0.026). In Group P, 75 women (50%) preferred to be asked pain scores and 38 women (25.3%) preferred to be asked for comfort scores. This difference was not seen in Group C, 58 women (38.6%) vs 54 (36.0%). Of the 300 women recruited, 127 women were undecided, had no preference, or provided no reason for their preference to be asked for their pain scores or comfort scores. Some patients commented that they preferred to be asked their pain scores rather than comfort scores because it was easier to rate and they were more familiar with the scale. Women preferring the comfort scale commented that 'comfort was more important than pain' or 'the word pain reminds me of my pain'.
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