Postoperative Pain Relief After Ambulatory Laparoscopic Surgery a Nonmatched Case-Control Study.

Purpose: To examine whether patient involvement using a Patient Decision Aid has a positive effect on pain levels, by giving them an active role in choosing a pain schedule for postoperative pain assessment and pain management.

Design: A nonmatched case-control study.

Methods: 101 adults 18 years or older were included to choose between 1 of 3 possible schedules for postoperative pain management. Perioperative variables, for example, patients' assessments of pain were registered at the hospital and further variables after discharge at postoperative day 1 (POD1), POD3, and POD7, for example, patients' ability to sleep and assessment of nausea.

Findings: Less pain after discharge was seen among patients choosing pain schedule II at POD1 (P = .0439). A significantly higher consumption of opioids (P = 0010) on POD1 in patients who have chosen pain schedule II.

Conclusions: Improved patient involvement by choosing a user-controlled pain schedule (pain schedule II) in postoperative pain management increased patient empowerment.