Pain Management Strategies to Enhance Patients’ Satisfaction Post Abdominal Surgeries in Selected Federal Teaching Hospitals, South-West Nigeria

Background: Patient’s satisfaction is a measure of the quality of care after postoperative pain management. Abdominal surgery is one of the major operations frequently carried out in teaching hospitals in Nigeria. Studies have shown that surgical patients in Nigeria experience extended hospital stays, delayed recovery, and increased postoperative complications as a result of inadequate pain management. Despite the frequency of the abdominal surgeries performed, there is limited data on optimal pain management strategies to enhance patients’ satisfaction. Furthermore, many patients in the federal teaching hospitals in South-West, Nigeria continue to express dissatisfaction post-surgery. Objective: This study investigated the pain management strategies to enhance patients’ satisfaction post abdominal surgery in selected federal teaching hospitals in South-West, Nigeria. Methods: The study was conducted using a qualitative method. Twelve abdominal surgical patients were purposively selected for the qualitative phase guided by data saturation. An interview guide was used in conducting semi-structured interviews. The obtained data were thematically analysed. Results: The findings revealed six themes: Patients’ experiences with abdominal surgical pains, satisfaction with methods used, factors promoting coping mechanisms, fear of drugs’ adverse effects, strategies used in managing pain and suggestions for effective pain management. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of multimodal pain management in enhancing patient satisfaction after abdominal surgery in South-West Nigeria. Findings reveal that combining pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic strategies improves pain relief and recovery. To enhance care, hospitals should implement policies supporting integrated pain management, provide continuous staff training, educate patients on pain relief options, and establish monitoring systems for patient feedback. A multidisciplinary approach involving surgeons, anesthetists, and nurses is essential. These measures will improve postoperative outcomes, reduce complications, and enhance patient satisfaction, ultimately leading to better healthcare delivery in federal teaching hospitals.