The Impact of Postoperative Thirst and Pain on Surgical Patients’ Comfort

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the impact of postoperative thirst and pain on surgical patients’ comfort. Design A descriptive, cross-sectional research design was employed. Methods The study was conducted in the neurosurgery and general surgery departments of a university hospital in Turkey between October 2023 and May 2024. Data were collected using the Descriptive Characteristics Form, Thirst Discomfort Scale (TDS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Perianesthesia Comfort Scale (PCS). Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis and Independent Samples t tests, Pearson Correlation Analysis, and Hierarchical Linear Regression. Findings Among the participants, 56.8% were male, 89.2% were married, with an average age of 53.94 ± 15.17 years. The mean scores for the TDS, VAS, and PCS were 35.70 ± 8.14, 4.43 ± 2.11, and 122.67 ± 9.98, respectively. Thirst was significantly influenced by American Society of Anesthesiologists classification and marital status, while pain was affected by nausea and vomiting ( P < .05). Comfort was significantly influenced only by education level ( P < .05). Regression analysis indicated that both the TDS (β = −0.277; P < .001) and VAS (β = −0.128; P < .001) were significant predictors of the PCS (F = 19.352; P < .001; R2 = 0.224). Conclusions Thirst and pain are significant postoperative symptoms, influenced by various sociodemographic factors and by each other, and are key factors affecting patient comfort. Managing both thirst and pain is essential for improving patient comfort and enhancing the overall quality of care. © 2025 The American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses.