Comparative Study of Anesthetic Agent Recovery Times in Outpatient Procedures: Insights from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Odisha

Background: Effective postoperative pain management is crucial for patient recovery and satisfaction.Despite advances in pain management techniques, patient satisfaction remains a significant indicator of healthcare quality and effectiveness.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at SRM Medical College Hospital, Bhawanipatna, Odisha, India.A total of 380 postoperative patients were surveyed using a standardized questionnaire that assessed demographic information, pain intensity, pain management interventions, and satisfaction with pain management.Pain intensity was measured using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and satisfaction was assessed through a Likert scale.Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression to identify predictors of satisfaction.Results: Most patients (68%) reported moderate to severe pain in the immediate postoperative period.Overall, 72% of patients expressed satisfaction with their pain management.Factors significantly associated with higher satisfaction included effective communication with healthcare providers (p<0.001),timely administration of pain relief (p=0.002), and multimodal pain management approaches (p=0.004).The patients who received patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) reported higher satisfaction levels than those who did not (p=0.015).However, dissatisfaction was noted among patients experiencing prolonged pain or side effects from analgesics. Conclusion:The study highlights the importance of effective communication, timely pain relief, and multimodal pain management strategies in enhancing patient satisfaction with postoperative pain management.These findings can inform strategies to improve pain management practices and patient outcomes in tertiary care settings.