Successful use of "Choice Architecture" and "Nudge Theory" in a quality improvement initiative of analgesia administration after caesarean section.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Regular, routine, multimodal analgesia provides better pain relief following Caesarean section than reliance on "as required" opiate dosing. This quality improvement report describes the effective use of an education programme coupled with a highlighted, preprinted medication chart, employing "Nudge Theory" principles to achieve significant improvements in the administration of analgesic medications to patients after Caesarean section operations.

PROBLEM: An acute pain service audit identified a serious deficiency with delivery of regular postoperative analgesic medications to patients following Caesarean section operations.

METHODS: An audit of pain medication delivery to patients following Caesarean section demonstrated that postoperative analgesia was not being administered in line with local prescribing guidelines. Two interventions were planned: Education sessions for anaesthetic recovery and ward staff. Introduction of a new preprinted and highlighted medication chart. A postintervention audit was then conducted.

RESULTS: There were statistically significant improvements in all medications administered to patients following the two interventions. For analgesic medications, the rate of administration of drugs in compliance with guidelines rose from 39.6% to 89.9% (P < 0.001 using 2-sample z test). Each subgroup of medications also showed statistically significant improvements in administration compliance.

CONCLUSION: A combined approach, including application of "Nudge Theory" to the administration of analgesic medication after Caesarean section, considerably improved delivery of medications prescribed for postoperative analgesia.