Vol. 9, Issue 4, Part B (2025)

Background: Pain management during minor surgical procedures in public health settings is often inadequate, despite its critical influence on patient satisfaction, outcomes, and ethical standards of care. Discrepancies between provider practices and patient expectations contribute to untreated pain and diminished trust in healthcare systems, particularly in resource-limited environments.

Objective: This study aimed to assess community perceptions and satisfaction with pain management during minor surgical procedures in public health facilities, with a focus on communication practices, anesthesia use, and factors associated with patient-reported outcomes.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 420 adult patients who underwent minor surgical procedures (e.g., incision and drainage, debridement, circumcision) in selected public health facilities. Data were collected using structured face-to-face interviews and analyzed using SPSS v25. Pain levels were measured using a numeric rating scale, and satisfaction was assessed via Likert-type items. Chi-square and t-tests were used to identify associations.

Results: While 74.3% of participants reported satisfaction with overall pain control, only 42.4% received information about pain relief options, and 36.4% were asked about their pain before procedures. Moderate to severe pain was reported by 68.3% of respondents (mean score: 4.9±2.1). Satisfaction was significantly associated with anesthesia use (p = 0.001), pre-procedural explanation (p = 0.003), education level (p = 0.04), and lower pain scores (p = 0.02). Residence (urban vs. rural) had no significant effect (p = 0.12).

Conclusion: Despite relatively high satisfaction rates, critical communication and procedural gaps persist in pain management for minor surgeries. Strengthening provider communication, ensuring consistent anesthesia use, and enhancing patient education are essential to improve pain outcomes and equity in public healthcare delivery.