Nursing Responses to Digital Pain Reports After Ambulatory Surgery: A Scoping Review.

OBJECTIVES

To map digital pain reporting during home recovery after ambulatory surgery and associated nursing responses.

DESIGN

Scoping review guided by Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews.

DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from inception through June 30, 2026.

REVIEW/ANALYSIS

METHODS

Studies were eligible when adults recovering at home after ambulatory surgery reported pain digitally and nurses had an identifiable role in assessment, advice, follow-up, referral, or escalation. Reporting processes, nursing actions, outcomes, and methodological limitations were descriptively mapped.

RESULTS

Thirteen reports were included. Systems included apps, portal questionnaires, automated texts, quick-response forms, and WeChat. Four overlapping response models were identified: patient-requested contact, rule-triggered callbacks, clinical-team surveillance, and consultative nursing escalation. Across models, pathway completeness comprised the reporting schedule, trigger, recipient, response interval, nursing assessment and authority, escalation, and closure or alternative access. Digital pathways often improved reach, completeness, satisfaction, or efficiency, but effects on pain, recovery, service use, and cost were inconsistent. Some increased nursing communication or limited responses to service hours.

CONCLUSIONS

Digital pain reporting supported surveillance when responsibility, response time, and escalation were explicit, but reporting alone did not improve recovery or service use consistently.

NURSING PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Services should define report recipients, nursing-assessment triggers, response times, escalation authority, documentation, and alternatives for people unable or unwilling to use digital tools.