An ethnographic exploration of postoperative pain experiences among Ghanaian surgical patients.

BACKGROUND

The experience of pain associated with surgery has been a challenge for health care professionals for many years, and culture is said to influence pain.

PURPOSE

This study focused on patients' experiences of postoperative pain (POP) and factors that affect POP.

DESIGN

The study employed qualitative ethnographic principles.

METHOD

Data were collected through individual face-to-face interviews. Data were saturated after analyzing data from 13 patients from two hospitals in Ghana.

FINDINGS

Themes that emerged were the subjective nature of pain, which described pain dimensions and communication; psycho-sociocultural factors, such as personal inclinations and sociocultural background; and health system factors, such as personnel attitudes and health financing.

IMPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH AND PRACTICE

Health professionals need to understand the sociocultural effects of pain in order to give effective care.

CONCLUSION

The study highlighted the need for patient education and the importance that health care professionals understand context-specific factors that influence POP management.