Despite the availability of analgesia, national guidelines to manage pain, the incidence of postoperative pain has remained stable over the last ten years. Acute pain associated with surgical procedures remains inadequately managed for patients. Patient's reports of satisfaction during their hospital stay and care received are used in public reporting and pay-for-performance. Pain management has had increased recognition as an important component of high quality care and a key factor of patient satisfaction. According to a recent study, patients report being satisfied with their care/hospitalization 4.86 times greater if pain was controlled and 9.92 times greater if staff's performance with pain control was appropriate. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation of the Pain Target Program (PTP) as compared to patient satisfaction in hospitalized post-surgical patients with acute pain. Theory of unpleasant symptoms guided this study in understanding the symptom experience and to provide information to design an effective mean to prevent or manage the unpleasant symptom of pain. Despite a report of lower pain ratings in the post implementation of the PTP group, there was no statistical significance found with the implementation of the pain target program on the patient's satisfaction with their pain control.
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