Developing a context appropriate clinical guideline for post-operative pain management in Ghana: A participatory approach

Clinical guidelines involve statements that guide clinicians to provide effective care to patients. However, there are no context appropriate clinical guidelines for post-operative pain (POP) management in Ghana. This study sought to develop such a clinical guideline. The study adopted a participatory approach drawing from the existing literature to develop the guideline with the involvement of 27 experts and stakeholders including nurses, doctors, anaesthetists, pharmacists, patients, and patients' relatives. Also, the guideline statements were discussed and finalised at a multidisciplinary consensus forum made up of 29 members. Consensus was achieved by employing procedures similar to a modified nominal group technique. Purposive sampling was employed. The guideline was made up of four dimensions described in a conceptual Radial Venn which emphasised inter-relationships among patient and family education, team work, monitoring and input by hospital leadership, and application of appropriate scientific recommendations for POP management. The effective collaboration with stakeholders resulted in the adoption of the clinical guideline by the Ghana Health Service for use within the Ghanaian health system.