Influences on Nurses’ Approaches to Preoperative Pain Management in the East Regional Hospital, Bolgatanga, Ghana

Pain has multiple dimensions, which are psychological, physical, emotional, and spiritual, and to manage pain effectively, a holistic assessment and management is required. However, the factors affecting preoperative pain assessment and management practices are poorly understood in Ghana. This study explored the knowledge, attitude and practices on nurses’ approaches to the implementation pain management in the Regional Hospital Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, Ghana. An exploratory descriptive qualitative research design was used the observation to identify and quantify for analysis that reached the results during this study. A non-parametric purposive sampling technique was used to selecting the 15 participants for the study. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data through face-to-face in-depth interviews. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic content analysis. The observation during study the study presented findings that indicated that nurses were aware of the need to assess and manage pain. The study also revealed a lack of preoperative pain management protocols for nurses, a limited supply of consumables and equipment, and preoperative education guidelines. The study identified that cultural beliefs, societal perceptions, and financial constraints influenced pain management. The study showed that nurses who manage surgical patients preoperatively use both pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain management strategies to manage pain. Pain management is influenced or affected by sociocultural beliefs and financial constraints. Facility-based factors affect the assessment and management of preoperative pain in the study context. The nurses employed posture, the application of cold compresses, and massage to help lower patients’ degree of pain