Pain Management and Its Possible Implementation Research in North Ethiopia: A before and after Study

Mengistu Hagazi Tequare; James John Huntzicker; Hagos Gidey Mhretu; Yibrah Berhe Zelelew; Hiluf Ebuy Abraha; Mehari Abrha Tsegay; Kesatea Gebrewahd Gebretensaye; Daniel Gebre Tesfay; Julio Gonzalez Sotomayor; Rahel Nardos; Mary Beth Yosses; Joshua Edwin Cobbs; Jennifer Pui Ling Schmidt; Wendy Weisman; Leslie K Breitner

doi:10.1155/2020/5317352

Pain Management and Its Possible Implementation Research in North Ethiopia: A before and after Study

Adv Med. 2020 Jun 2:2020:5317352. doi: 10.1155/2020/5317352. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Mengistu Hagazi Tequare¹, James John Huntzicker², Hagos Gidey Mhretu³, Yibrah Berhe Zelelew³, Hiluf Ebuy Abraha⁴, Mehari Abrha Tsegay³, Kesatea Gebrewahd Gebretensaye³, Daniel Gebre Tesfay⁴, Julio Gonzalez Sotomayor², Rahel Nardos², Mary Beth Yosses², Joshua Edwin Cobbs², Jennifer Pui Ling Schmidt², Wendy Weisman², Leslie K Breitner⁵

Affiliations

¹ Mekelle University, College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Mek'ele, Ethiopia.
² Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
³ Mekelle University, College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Mek'ele, Ethiopia.
⁴ Mekelle University, Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Mek'ele, Ethiopia.
⁵ McGill University, Desautels Faculty of Management, Montreal, Canada.

Abstract

Background: Though there is an effective intervention, pain after surgical intervention is undermanaged worldwide. A systematic implementation is required to increase the utilization of available evidence-based intervention to manage the inevitable pain after surgery. The aim of this research project is to develop a scalable model for managing pain after cesarean section by implementing the World Health Organization's (WHO) pain management guidelines through a combination of implementation research and quality improvement methods.

Methods: We implemented the World Health Organization (WHO) pain management guidelines using effective implementation strategies. First, we conducted a formative qualitative exploration to identify enablers and obstacles. In addition, we took base-line assessment on pain management implementation process and outcome using a checklist prepared from the guideline and an adapted American Pain Outcome assessment tool version 2010, respectively. Then, we integrated the guidelines into the existing practice by using collaborative iterative learning strategy. We analyzed the data by Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. We compared the before and after data using chi-squared and Fischer's exact test. A change in any measurement was considered as significant at p value 0.05.

Result: We collected data from 106 mothers before and 110 mothers after intervention implementation. We successfully integrated pain as a fifth vital sign in more than 87% (p value <0.001) of patient, and fidelity was approximately 59% (p value <0.001). In addition, we significantly improved pain outcome measures after the implementation of the intervention. Conclusion and Recommendations. A systematic approach to implement pain management guidelines was successful. We recommend the ward sustain these gains and that hospital, the region, and the nation to replicate the success.