Abstract

Introduction: The Evidence-Based Practices (EBP), have gained considerable ground in treatment and care, increases the quality of nurses' clinical care. Yet EBP is less frequently employed despite its efficiency and importance. Pain management is an important component of nursing care and sufficient pain control has still remained as a challenge despite routine nursing practices that are already provided. Aim: The present study intended to define the impact of evidence-based nursing practices on postoperative pain in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery. Materials and Methods: The present study was a single group quasi-experimental study with before/after design. The study was conducted in the General Surgery Departments of the Amiralmomenin Hospital in Zabol during 2014-2015. A purposive sampling method was used to study 55 patients undergoing abdominal surgery. The data collection tool was a questionnaire. The patients pain severity was defined before and after implementing evidence-based practices. The collected data were analysed in SPSS using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Results: The results showed that 61.8 of patients experienced severe postoperative pain. The mean perceived pain ratings in women and men were 7.88+/-1.78 and 9.42+/-0.81, respectively. The mean pain intensity was 8.48+/-1.66 before the intervention and reached 7.16+/-1.71 after the intervention, which was significant based on Kruskal-Wallis test (p=0.003). The mean postoperative pain experienced by the patients (p<0.01) and pain-relief following the intervention (p=0.002) was significant for gender. Conclusion: This study suggests that a high percentage of patients experienced acute postoperative pain despite routine nursing care, while evidence-based nursing practices could significantly alleviate pain.