The effect of standard pain assessment on pain and analgesic consumption amount in patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery

•The assessment of pain is a critical step for good pain management.•The SPAP provides guiding in determining the optimum analgesic dose and administration frequency.•Analgesic administration at regular intervals according to the pain level is considered to prevent the fluctuations in blood analgesic levels.•SPAP provides regular analgesia when used in combination with regular pain assessment.

Pain assessment has a key role in relief of the postoperative pain. In this study, we aimed to examine the effect of the Standard Pain Assessment Protocol (SPAP), which we developed based on acute pain guidelines, on pain level, and analgesic consumption. The study population consisted of a total of 101 patients who had arthroscopic shoulder surgery. The routine pain assessment was administered to the control group, while the SPAP was administered to the study group. The routine pain therapy of the clinic was administered to the subjects from both groups based on the pain assessment. Throughout the study, pain was assessed nearly two times more in the study group (p < 0.001) and the mean pain levels were lower at 8th-11th hours in the study group (p < 0.001). Pain assessment was not performed after 12th hour despite the severe pain in the control group, and, therefore, analgesia was administered at irregular intervals or was not administered at all. However, the hours of analgesic administration were found to be more regular according to the pain levels of the patients in the study group. In conclusion, the SPAP reduced the pain level by providing regular analgesia when used in combination with regular pain assessment.PerspectiveThis article highlights the appropriate assessment for patients with surgical pain. In majority of literature on the subject, the authors emphasize the importance of Standard Pain Assessment Protocol to provide adequate pain relief.