The effect of around-the-clock (ATC) analgesic administration on the quality of sleep and behavioral changes in childrens after surgery: A randomized clinical trial study

Lack of effective control in postoperative pain can cause sleep disturbance, decreased fluid intake and incidence of behavioral changes such as restlessness, irritability and reduced activity and play. Therefore, this study was performed with the aim of determination the effectiveness of around-the-clock (ATC) analgesic administration on the quality of sleep and behavioral changes in children after surgery.
In this clinical trial study, 68 children 6 to 12 years admitted for tonsillectomy with one parent were selected and randomly were divided to control and case groups. For case group, intervention was performed by the around-the-clock (ATC) analgesic administration training after discharge. Data collecting tools were home dairy that was completed by parents. Data were analyzed with SPSS16 by repeated measures, post-hoc, independent t and Chi-square tests.
According to independent t test, There were significant differences between children of case and control groups in average sleep quality scores in the first day after discharge (p=0.008). According to chi-square test, Except for appetite (p=0/00), no significant differences were showed between children of two groups in the other behavioral changes.
Training of around-the-clock (ATC) analgesic administration in the first three days after ambulatory surgery such as tonsillectomy can prevent inappropriate behavioral changes in children and increases the quality of their sleep and appetite.