The Third Year Anesthesiology Residents' Knowledge Regarding Pediatric Postoperative Pain Management

Abstract

Background and Objective: There are 6 anesthesiology training centers in Thailand that are approved by the Royal College of Anesthesiology to operate the 3-year training program. An evidence of residents’ knowledge about pediatric postoperative pain management, one of a mandatory topic, is needed for improving the training program. So we conducted this study to assess the 3-year anesthesiology residents' knowledge.

Methods: The pediatric postoperative pain management questionnaire was adapted from previous studies. The questionnaire has 35 questions to cover pediatric pain assessment and treatment. Minimal passing level of the questionnaire rated by three young anesthesiology staffs was 76.2%.

Results : The response rate was 95.2%. %. The proportion of the correct score was 67.7% which was lower than the minimal passing level. The highest score was 82.9% and the lowest score was 45.7%. The highest score's topic was about opioid usage. Their weak point was pain evaluation, adjunct analgesia and drug conversion.

Conclusions : Pain education has been provided during Anesthesiology training programs in Thailand. However, the third year anesthesiology residents' knowledge about pediatric postoperative pain management needs to be improved.

Key word: Anesthesiology resident, Knowledge, Pediatric, Postoperative pain management