Evolution of Management of Postoperative Pain in Spain: A Nationwide Survey of Organizational Structure and Clinical Practice
10 affiliations
- 1Department of Anaesthesia and Reanimation Hospital Clínico Universitario Valladolid Spain saludcastillayleon.es
- 2Department of Anaesthesia and Reanimation University Complex of Vigo Vigo Spain
- 3Department of Anaesthesia, Reanimation and Pain Management Hospital San Joan de Déu Palma Islas Baleares Spain
- 4Department of Anaesthesia, Reanimation and Pain Management Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña Spain
- 5Department of Anaesthesia Hospital Quironsalud Sagrado Corazón Sevilla Spain
- 6Department of Anaesthesia, Reanimation and Pain Management Hospital Universitario La Paz Madrid Spain hulp.es
- 7Department of Anaesthesia, Reanimation and Pain Management Hospital Arnau de Vilanova Valencia Spain esmo.org
- 8Department of Anaesthesia, Reanimation and Pain Management Hospital Universitario Río Hortega Valladolid Spain saludcastillayleon.es
- 9Department of Anaesthesia, Reanimation and Pain Management Hospital Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda Majadahonda Spain
- 10Department of Anaesthesiology Hospital Del Mar Research Institute Barcelona Spain imim.cat
Abstract
Background: Hospitals require standardized processes to effectively manage patients with acute postoperative pain. We aim to evaluate the current pain management practices in Spain through a cross‐sectional study, updating the findings from a previous audit conducted in 2012.
Methods: An online questionnaire was mailed to anesthesiologists in Spain. Responses were stratified based on the hospital size (< 200 or ≥ 200 beds). Categorical variables were presented as percentages with a 95% confidence interval, while continuous variables were expressed as median and interquartile range.
Results: The survey received responses from 67.9% (n = 127) of hospitals with ≥ 200 beds. 70.1% of large hospitals had an acute pain service (APS) and a hospital‐wide acute pain management program (APMP). Concerning large hospitals, full‐time pain physicians were available in 30.3% of large hospitals, and 41.6% had full‐time nurses dedicated to pain management; 40.2% of patients received written information about postoperative pain; 89.0% of participants reported that their hospital used a standardized scale for assessing postoperative pain; 79.5% had pain treatment protocols; professional training in postoperative pain was organized in 46.6% of cases; and 51.2% considered that the acute postoperative pain was well managed in their hospital.
Conclusion: Twelve years later, our study shows (in hospitals ≥ 200 beds), there has been an increase in the percentage of centers with APS or APMP, the proportion of nurses with full‐time dedication, and the assessment and documentation of pain. However, the implementation of protocols, pain management training, and the analysis of pain‐related indicators have worsened. Improvements are necessary to implement standardized acute postoperative pain management.
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BibTeX
@article{perezherrero2026evolution,
title = {{Evolution of Management of Postoperative Pain in Spain: A Nationwide Survey of Organizational Structure and Clinical Practice}},
author = {Maria A. Perez-Herrero and Gustavo Illodo Miramontes and Neus Esteve Pérez and Servando López Alvarez and Juan Carlos Luís Navarro and Blanca Martínez Serrano and Santiago Montesinos Fadrique and Sandra Fernández Caballero and María Teresa Fernández Martin and Agustín Mendiola de la Osa and Antonio Montes Pérez},
journal = {Pain Research \& Management},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1155/prm/5391303},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1155/prm/5391303},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Evolution of Management of Postoperative Pain in Spain: A Nationwide Survey of Organizational Structure and Clinical Practice
AU - Maria A. Perez-Herrero
AU - Gustavo Illodo Miramontes
AU - Neus Esteve Pérez
AU - Servando López Alvarez
AU - Juan Carlos Luís Navarro
AU - Blanca Martínez Serrano
AU - Santiago Montesinos Fadrique
AU - Sandra Fernández Caballero
AU - María Teresa Fernández Martin
AU - Agustín Mendiola de la Osa
AU - Antonio Montes Pérez
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/02
JO - Pain Research & Management
DO - 10.1155/prm/5391303
UR - https://doi.org/10.1155/prm/5391303
AB - Background: Hospitals require standardized processes to effectively manage patients with acute postoperative pain. We aim to evaluate the current pain management practices in Spain through a cross‐sectional study, updating the findings from a previous audit conducted in 2012. Methods: An online questionnaire was mailed to anesthesiologists in Spain. Responses were stratified based on the hospital size (< 200 or ≥ 200 beds). Categorical variables were presented as percentages with a 95% confidence interval, while continuous variables were expressed as median and interquartile range. Results: The survey received responses from 67.9% (n = 127) of hospitals with ≥ 200 beds. 70.1% of large hospitals had an acute pain service (APS) and a hospital‐wide acute pain management program (APMP). Concerning large hospitals, full‐time pain physicians were available in 30.3% of large hospitals, and 41.6% had full‐time nurses dedicated to pain management; 40.2% of patients received written information about postoperative pain; 89.0% of participants reported that their hospital used a standardized scale for assessing postoperative pain; 79.5% had pain treatment protocols; professional training in postoperative pain was organized in 46.6% of cases; and 51.2% considered that the acute postoperative pain was well managed in their hospital. Conclusion: Twelve years later, our study shows (in hospitals ≥ 200 beds), there has been an increase in the percentage of centers with APS or APMP, the proportion of nurses with full‐time dedication, and the assessment and documentation of pain. However, the implementation of protocols, pain management training, and the analysis of pain‐related indicators have worsened. Improvements are necessary to implement standardized acute postoperative pain management.
SN - 1203-6765
SN - 1918-1523
ER -