Pain intensity, management practices, and patient satisfaction after ocular surgery at a tertiary hospital in Uganda

Pain following ocular surgery is a common yet often mismanaged condition that may negatively affect recovery and patient satisfaction with care. In resource-limited settings, lack of standardized pain management protocols and resources can result in poor and inconsistent care. This data was collected for a study that aimed to determine the intensity of postoperative pain, pain management practices, and patient satisfaction among patients undergoing ocular surgery at Mulago National Referral Hospital.

We conducted a hospital-based cross-sectional study among 109 adult patients undergoing elective ocular surgery. Data regarding the patients’ demographic and clinical attributes and the care received in the department were collected using a pre-coded questionnaire. Data on pain intensity and management were collected at five time points (1, 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours after surgery), with pain intensity measured using the Wong-Baker FACES® Pain Rating Scale. Patient satisfaction with pain management was assessed at 24 hours using a 5-point Likert scale, with 1 indicating very unsatisfied, 2 indicating unsatisfied, 3 indicating uncertain, 4 indicating satisfied, and 5 indicating very satisfied.