Iran Journal of Nursing

Abstract

Background & Aims: Each year over a hundred million people are undergoing surgery and experience the postoperative pain. Immobility and pain are modifiable risk factors for development of venous thromboembolism and pulmonary morbidity after major abdominal surgery. Documentation from a few studies implies that abdominal binders diminish post-operative pain, seroma formation, psychological distress and post-operative discomfort. Thus the purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of using abdominal binder on the pain intensity of patients after abdominal surgery.

Material & Methods: In a randomized controlled clinical trial, 48 patients who underwent therapeutic laparotomy surgery with abdomen midline incision allocated to intervention and control group randomly. In the first three days after surgery patients in the intervention group used the abdominal binder before the first movement in the morning, then come down the bed and walked. The pain and satisfaction questionnaire completed as soon as they go back to bed. The pain intensity and satisfaction of control group measured after walking and when they go back to bed in the morning. For data analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics (chi-square, t-test, and Friedman) were used.

Results:Patients in the intervention group experienced a significant decrease in pain intensity (p<0.05). Patients' satisfaction was significantly higher in the intervention group (p<0.05).

Conclusion:The results of the study showed that abdominal binder, as a non-pharmacologic method of pain management decreased the patients’ pain and increased the patients’ satisfaction in abdominal surgery.