Effect of Personality and Pain Catastrophizing on Postoperative Analgesia Following Cesarean Section: A Prospective Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of different psychological personalities and pain catastrophizing levels on postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing cesarean section.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Puerperas who underwent cesarean section at our hospital between January and August 2023 were recruited into the study and assessed using the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised Short Scale (EPQRSC) and Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). Data on the numerical pain intensity at rest and during activity 24 h after surgery, number and dosage of analgesia pumps, and satisfaction with analgesia were recorded. According to the numerical pain score during activity 24 h post-operation, the patients were divided into the analgesia incomplete group (≥4) and control group (<4). Univariate analysis, Spearman correlation analysis, and binary logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the influence of personality characteristics and PCS on postoperative analgesia.

RESULTS: A total of 778 women were included in the study. The incidence of inadequate analgesia was 89.8%. The satisfaction rate of analgesia was 66.8%. Univariate analysis showed that extraversion; neuroticism; PCS; numbers of previous cesarean delivery; ASA; analgesic satisfaction; and 24-h analgesia pump compressions and dosage were associated with postoperative analgesia after cesarean section ( P <0.05). Using binary logistic regression analysis, the first cesarean section (odds ratio [OR]=0.056, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.913-19.174), the number of 24-h analgesic pump compressions (OR=8.464, 95% CI=0.356-0.604), extraversion (OR=0.667, 95% CI=0.513-0.866), neuroticism (OR=1.427, 95% CI=1.104-1.844), and PCS (OR=7.718, 95% CI=0.657-0.783) were factors affecting postoperative analgesia.

CONCLUSION: The incidence of inadequate analgesia after a cesarean section was high (89.8% on the first day after surgery). Formulating accurate analgesia programs for women undergoing cesarean section with extraversion, neuroticism personality characteristics, and pain catastrophizing behaviors is necessary for improving their postoperative analgesia effects and satisfaction and promoting postpartum comfort.