Evaluation of Acute Pain in Patients Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Cohort Study

Purpose: To evaluate pain levels in patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA) using the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC).

Methods: Prospective cohort study conducted in the surgical hospitalization units of a university hospital in southern Brazil. Twenty-four patients were evaluated and followed-up for four consecutive days after THA.

Findings: A significant difference was found between the first and last evaluations for the outcome pain level (2102). Two indicators also showed statistically significant differences overtime.

Conclusions: The NOC outcome and indicators demonstrated the different pain levels of patients who underwent THA.

Implications for nursing practice: The NOC system is applicable to clinical practice, because it facilitated the follow-up of patient progression.