Examination of the relationship between pain and comfort levels of lumbar disc hernia surgery patients

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between pain and comfort levels in patients with lumbar disc herniation surgery.Material and method: This descriptive and relationship-seeking study was conducted between November 2018 – September 2019 at Malatya Training and Research Hospital Neurosurgery Clinics. The population of the study consisted of adult patients with lumbar disc hernia surgery in the aforementioned clinics. The sample consisted of 180 patients selected among these patients by random sampling method who meet the criteria for admission and are willing to participate in the study. Data were collected by the researcher by face to face interview on the first postoperative day. Patient Identification Form was used to determine the descriptive characteristics of the patients, Numerical Pain Scale was used to determine the pain level, and Perianesthesia Comfort Scale was used to determine the comfort level. Number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t test, Mann Whitney U test, Cronbach's Alpha, Kruskal Wallis Analysis of Variance, Chi-square and correlation tests were used for statistical evaluation of the data. Results: The patients comfort level was good (4.28±0.46) and the pain level was moderate (6.20±1.90). There was a weak negative correlation between pain and comfort levels of patients. (r=-0.372; p<0.01).Conclusion: As a result of this study, it was determined that comfort levels increased as the pain severity decreased in patients with lumbar disc hernia surgery.