The purpose of this study was to investigate and describe the experience of infertility of African women, men and family member. It is hoped that this description will contribute to a deeper understanding of the psychosocial difficulties involved in the area of infertility and ofthe ways in which people respond to the situation of infertility. A qualitative research approach was used, and in particular social constructivist-interpretive research and feminist research approaches. The sample consisted of39 participants: 19 women, 10 men, and 10 family members faced with infertility. The research orientation was field-based, concerned with collecting data using the technique of in-depth semi-structured interviews. Each participant was interviewed individually. The interviews were recorded on tape, transcribed in their full length and translated into English. Data were analysed on the basis of the interpretive feminist approach. Analysis of individual cases and crosscase analysis were employed. The findings suggested a contextual definition of infertility, for example, for some, having had an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage meant that they did not fit into the definition of infertility. The findings revealed that for many African women and men, blood ties still defined the family and the persona. Thus, failure to have a blood child resulted in courtship and marital break up, extramarital relationships, polygamy, and divorce and remarriage. Infertility had serious psychosocial consequences for both the infertile individuals and their families. Participants experienced repeated periods of existential crisis, which began at different points for different participants. Analysis of gender differences indicated similarities in the experience of the crisis, but differences in terms of expression and ways of responding to the crisis. Family dynamics within the context of infertility were coloured by ambivalent feelings, resentment, insensitivity, and miscommunication, but also affection, and social support. Traditional and modern medical health systems offered the possibility of finding explanations and treatment, but there was further strain from the negative experiences with the health care system. The findings in this study suggested the need for policy reformulation, for psychosocial intervention as part of the treatment plan, and for future research on the outcome of using various coping strategies. / Psychology / D. Phil. (Psychology)

Abstract Euthanasia from the points of view of theology and ethics Key words: euthanasia, suffering, death, dying, dignity, human rights, doctor, patient, palliative medicine, hospice care, assisted suicide, religious motivation, followers, objectors of euthanasia In my thesis I am covering the topic of ?qeuthanasia??. The main objective of this paper is to introduce the reader to the problem of euthanasia from the points of view of theology and ethics. This thesis consists of theoretical and practical parts. The theoretical part further consists of eleven chapters. In the first chapter, the types of euthanasia ares discussed (active, passive, prenatal, and assisted suicide). In the second chapter, the history of euthanasia is discussed in a great detail. The third chapter mainly concentrates on euthanasia in the world. The fourth chapter is about the criteria of death. In the fifth chapter, I address the questions of euthanasia and death in recent years. The sixth chapter is about the relationship between a doctor and a patient. The seventh chapter covers palliative medicine and the eighth chapter further expands on this subject with the topic of hospice care. In the ninth chapter, I pursue the point of religious motivational impact. The tenth and eleventh chapters are dedicated to the followers and objectors of euthanasia. The practical part concentrates on exploratory research. I have chosen sociological research using the methods of discussion. Here are three interviews with experts, who interact with dying individuals on a daily basis. These questioned specialists are believers and therefore the discourses are anonymous. The objective of these discussions was to uncover how professional in different facilities view the issues of euthanasia. This objective was sucessfully achieved.

This article samples possible uses of psychoanalysis in law from the academic work of Joseph Goldstein and Jay Katz. Both start to recognize the importance of psychoanalysis to provide a serious and courageous attention to the non-rational dimensions of the human being, we should be aware in the world of law. Starting from this premise, the author explores two possible uses of psychoanalysis in law: one represented by Goldstein, focuses on using «psychoanalytic premises to resolve legal disputes», for example by providing psychoanalytic information to determine the best interests of the child in cases of custody, while the other, represented by Katz, who seeks to «create an awareness of conflict where all of the actors had previously been locked in a mutually reinforcing fantasy that no conflict existed», as it occurs in doctor-patient relationship, in order to rethink standards that had been set by law under an illusion of objectivity and rationality. The article explores these two approaches through examples, linking two perspectives adopted by Freud throughout his academic work and taking a preferred position by the position of Katz. / El presente artículo muestras los posibles usos del psicoanálisis en el derecho a partir del trabajo académico de Joseph Goldstein y Jay Katz. Ambos parten de reconocer la importancia del psicoanálisis para prestar una atención seria y valiente a las dimensiones no racionales del ser humano, de las que debemos ser conscientes en el mundo del derecho. Partiendo de dicha premisa, el autor explora dos posibles usos del psicoanálisis en el derecho. Uno, representado por Goldstein, se centra en utilizar «premisas psicoanalíticas para resolver conflictos jurídicos», como, por ejemplo, al aportar información psicoanalítica para determinar el interés superior del niño en casos de tenencia. Mientras tanto, el otro, representado por Katz, busca «concientizar acerca de un conflicto en casos donde los todos actores se habían dedicado a reforzar mutuamente su fantasía de que no existía conflicto alguno» entre sujetos de una relación, como ocurría en la relación médico-paciente, con la finalidad de repensar estándares que habían sido fijados por el derecho bajo una ilusión de objetividad y racionalidad. El artículo explora estas dos aproximaciones a través de ejemplos, vinculándolas a dos perspectivas adoptadas por Freud a lo largo de su trabajo académico y tomando una postura preferente por la mirada de Katz.

Atualmente o vídeo tem sido considerado por alguns autores o padrão-ouro para ensino de habilidades de comunicação e o vídeo feedback (VF) tem se mostrado eficaz no treinamento de habilidades em várias áreas profissionais. Entretanto, há poucos estudos sobre os efeitos das diferentes metodologias de VF. Este estudo propõe explorar as potencialidades, desafios e efeitos do VF de filmagem de consultas em contexto real, para uma avaliação formativa em habilidades de comunicação, com médicos residentes, em um programa de Atenção Primária. Foi conduzido um estudo pré e pós teste com um grupo controle. A intervenção constituiu-se de sessões de revisão do vídeo em pequenos grupos, na metodologia de entrevista baseada em problemas, com feedback por colegas (peer-feedback) e com um facilitador. Os 54 (cinquenta e quatro) médicos residentes responderam questionários quantitativos e qualitativos e dois avaliadores externos analisaram em vídeo, randomicamente e às cegas, cerca de 200 (duzentas) performances dos residentes com pacientes-simulados, antes e após a intervenção. Para análise dos dados foi usado ANOVA two-way de medidas repetidas e para análise qualitativa foi usado análise temática de Braun e Clarke. A metodologia de VF utilizada para avaliação formativa mostrou ser bem avaliada pelos participantes e com potencial de gerar mudança de atitudes no entrevistador. Na análise qualitativa, as principais potencialidades identificadas na metodologia foram autopercepção e o feedback por pares, e as principais mudanças na prática clínica foram a melhora da comunicação não-verbal, mudanças de comportamento, abordagem mais centrada no paciente e incorporação de prática reflexiva. Houve aumento de escores, entre os tempos, relacionados à decisão compartilhada, aviso de alerta de comunicação de má notícia e disposição para apoio ao paciente. Os desafios foram a dificuldade do facilitador em conectar o vídeo feedback com o referencial teórico e o estresse inicial para gravar-se e assistir-se em vídeo. Observamos que a análise qualitativa dos dados revelou mais informações sobre os efeitos nos participantes que a análise quantitativa. Os dados observados nos resultados qualitativos não tiveram o mesmo impacto nos resultados quantitativos. Devido à dificuldade observada em encontrar instrumentos adequados e validados para avaliar habilidades de comunicação, foi realizada em uma etapa posterior, a tradução e adaptação transcultural para o português falado no Brasil do instrumento Calgary-Cambridge Observation Guide (CCOG), com análise psicométrica. Concluímos que há uma dificuldade nos questionários em mensurar competências atitudinais e aspectos mais subjetivos de comunicação. Sugere-se mais estudos com aprofundamento na definição de parâmetros dos itens subjetivos de avaliação, conforme as competências exigidas para cada fase da formação médica. Concluímos também que para uma metodologia de VF efetiva é importante estimular a autoavaliação com uma prática reflexiva, feedback por pares focado em reforço positivo na busca de estratégias, além de um facilitador cuidadoso em relação a psicologia do aprendiz, com habilidade de conectar o feedback com uma teoria de comunicação abordada previamente. A versão brasileira do CCOG mostrou confiabilidades aceitáveis nos indicadores psicométricos, incluindo no modelo multifacetas de Rasch e assim, um instrumento adequado para auxiliar no ensino e avaliação de habilidades de comunicação no Brasil / Currently, video recordings of medical consultations have become the standard teaching approach to communication skills, and video feedback has shown to be effective in skills training in many professional areas. However, researches on the effects of different video-based feedback methodologies remains scarce. This study proposes to explore the potentials, challenges, and effects of video-based feedback methodology in real contexts for the formative assessment of communication skills of medical residents in a primary health care program. We conducted a pre/post study with a control group. The intervention was video feedback sessions with peer-feedback. Before and after the intervention, medical residents 54 (fifty four) answered quantitative and qualitative questionnaires and two raters blind assessed about 200(two hundred) video-recorded clinical examinations with simulated patients, who also scored the performances. For the data analysis, we used ANOVA two-way and for the qualitative analysis, we used the Braun and Clarke framework for thematic analysis. This video feedback methodology showed to be a well-accepted formative assessment. The main potentialities identified were self-perception and peer-feedback. The main effects in the residents\' medical practice was a better patient-centered approach, with increased scores mainly in good listening, decision-sharing, and patient support. Improvements were reported in non-verbal communication, behavior changes, and incorporation of reflective practices. Some of the challenges were the difficulty of the coordinator to link the video feedback with theoretical references and the initial stress to record and watch oneself in video. During the study, we did not find adequate and validated instruments to assess communication skills, and so in stage 2 we developed the translation and transcultural adaptation to Brazilian Portuguese of the Calgary-Cambridge Observation Guide (CCOG). This study did not find instruments that completely answered the assessment necessities regarding training in clinical communication. Further researches about assessment tools are thus required, as discussion about competence parameters in subjective items in assessment. The qualitative analysis revealed more information about the effects in communication skills than the quantitate analysis. We observed that there is a difficulty in questionnaires assessing attitudinal competences and subjective aspects in communication. We conclude that for an effective video-based feedback it becomes important to promote self-evaluation alongside reflective practices, peer-feedback focused in positive reinforcement and pursuing strategies, and a supervisor attentive to the leaner\'s psychology and able to relate the feedback with a well-defined communication theory. The Brazilian CCOG version showed acceptable reliability in the Rasch model indicators and could be part of a systematic assessment of communication skills in Brazil

Introduction: High-quality doctor-patient relationship is a worldwide concern for medicine, particularly with regard to medical education. Objective: This research aimed to carry out a needs assessment in order to identify targets for improving the doctor-patient relationship teaching and learning process in the undergraduate Medicine course at the Sergipe Federal University (UFS). Methods: A narrative review of cognitive behavior perspective, an integrative review of the Brazilian literature and a cross-sectional descriptive study were done. This study involved 165 undergraduate Medicine students at the UFS (92 women and 73 men), 31 professors (11 women and 20 men) and 71 patients (59 women and 12 men) admitted at the university hospital. The instruments applied included: a Brazilian version of the Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS), which is a self-evaluation scale consisting of 18 items; a demographic questionnaire and three versions of a questionnaire on doctor-patient relationship with open and closed-ended questions. The first version consisted of 14 items and was designed for the students; the second version consisted of 15 questions and was designed for the professors; and the third version consisted of seven questions and was designed for the patients. Both the curriculum and the syllabus of the Medicine course were analyzed. Results: Review outcomes indicated a growing interest in the topic, with observational research and experience reports, but lacking evaluation tools. Field research showed that interpersonal development in medical education is considered important for 93.5% of professors and 95.7% of students. However, only two disciplines explicitly describe such content in their syllabus. The most common strategies applied by professors were rule-based learning (41.7%), modelling (33.3%) and shaping (19.4%). The major obstacles identified were curriculum flaws (52.7%), professors flaws (20.6%) or students difficulties (14.6%). Self-control and emotional expressiveness, communication, civility and empathy were classes of social skills indicated as important by more than 80% of each of the participating groups. Physician-centered attitudes were indicated by 45.2% of professors, 56.4% of students and 88.7% of patients. The professors total PPOS mean score was the highest (4.66 ± 0.52), suggesting a mildly patient-focused attitude. The students total PPOS mean score (4.43 ± 0.53) was higher than that of the patients (3.93 ± 0.59), but both indicated patient-centered attitude. Conclusion: It is understood that the doctor-patient relationship is yet to be included in formal medical school planning. Also, such content has not been continuously developed and specific strategies for teaching interpersonal skills are barely applied. However, the respondents in this study acknowledged the importance of interpersonal development in medical education, which supports its inclusion in formal education, as well as the inclusion of new teaching strategies. Such acknowledgement may trigger discussions on educational planning and social skills training, as long as professors, students and patients demands are taken into account. / Introdução: No cenário mundial a relação médico-paciente de qualidade é uma das preocupações da Medicina, particularmente no que diz respeito à educação médica. Objetivo: O objetivo desta pesquisa foi fazer uma avaliação de necessidades com vistas a identificar alvos para a melhoria do ensino e a aprendizagem da relação médico-paciente no curso de graduação de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Sergipe (UFS). Métodos: Foram feitas: uma revisão narrativa da perspectiva cognitivo-comportamental, uma revisão integrativa da literatura nacional e uma pesquisa descritiva transversal. Participaram do estudo 165 alunos do curso de graduação de Medicina da UFS (92 mulheres e 73 homens), 31 professores (11 mulheres e 20 homens) e 71 pacientes (59 mulheres e 12 homens) atendidos no hospital universitário. Os instrumentos utilizados foram: a versão brasileira do Patient-practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS), que é uma escala autoinforme com 18 itens, um questionário de dados demográficos e três versões de um questionário sobre a relação médico-paciente com perguntas abertas e fechadas. A primeira versão era composta por 14 itens e foi aplicada com os estudantes, a segunda versão era composta por 15 questões e foi aplicada com os professores e a terceira versão era composta por sete questões e foi aplicada com os pacientes. Foi feita uma análise do currículo e das ementas do curso de Medicina. Resultados: Os resultados da revisão apontaram um crescente interesse na temática com pesquisas observacionais e relatos de experiência, mas com falta de instrumento de avaliação. Os resultados da pesquisa de campo apontaram que o desenvolvimento interpessoal na educação médica é considerado importante para 93,5% dos professores e 95,7% dos alunos, mas apenas duas disciplinas têm como objetivo explícito em suas ementas esse conteúdo. As principais estratégias utilizadas pelos professores foram aprendizagem por regras (41,7%), modelação (33,3%) e modelagem (19,4%). As principais barreiras apontadas foram falhas da estrutura curricular (52,7%), déficits do professor (20,6%) ou dificuldades dos próprios alunos (14,6%). O autocontrole e expressividade emocional, comunicação, civilidade e empatia foram as classes de habilidades socais indicadas como importante por mais de 80% de cada um dos grupos participantes. As atitudes centradas no médico foram indicadas por 45,2% dos professores, 56,4% dos alunos e 88,7% dos pacientes. A média do escore total do PPOS dos professores foi a mais alta (4,66±0,52), sugerindo atitude mediamente centrada no paciente. A média do escore total do PPOS dos alunos (4,43±0,53) foi mais alta que dos pacientes (3,93±0,59), porém ambas indicaram atitude centrada no paciente. Conclusão: Entende-se que a relação médico-paciente ainda não está incluída no planejamento formal do curso de Medicina, que este conteúdo não tem sido desenvolvido de forma contínua e que o uso de estratégias de ensino específicas para habilidades interpessoais é restrito. Porém, há uma credibilidade da importância do desenvolvimento interpessoal na educação médica pelos respondentes, o que favorece a formalização de seu ensino e a inclusão de novas estratégias didáticas. Esta identificação pode promover discussões sobre o planejamento educacional, bem como a reflexão sobre o treinamento de habilidades sociais levando em consideração as demandas dos professores, estudantes e pacientes.

O que acontece no encontro do médico com a morte do seu paciente diz de algo estruturante da condição humana que transcende a formação acadêmica e mobiliza por este estar na presença de outro ser humano. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa que teve como objetivo principal descrever e conhecer o que existe de estruturante no encontro do médico com a morte do seu paciente. Este estudo utiliza o método fenomenológico de pesquisa, entendido como um convite para o exercício reflexivo visando à construção de novos paradigmas na produção de conhecimento. O autor de base que fundamenta a análise teórica foi Maurice Merleau-Ponty (2006). Foram realizadas quatro entrevistas com médicos oncologistas clínicos, embasadas na pergunta norteadora: O que significa para você cuidar do paciente oncológico, sem possibilidade de cura, que vivencia o seu processo de morrer e posteriormente perdê-lo?. Após a realização das entrevistas, os relatos (ingênuos) foram literalizados, dos quais foram levantadas as unidades de análise e transformadas em categorias analisadas fenomenologicamente, que possibilitaram o diálogo intersubjetivo e objetivo com os pressupostos teóricos sobre o tema em pauta. Categorias estas denominadas de: 1. Relação médico e paciente: o desvelar das emoções e sentimentos; 2. Relação médico e paciente: um distanciamento da morte do paciente; 3. O encontro do médico com a morte: a morte imprevisível; 4. Construção da identidade do sujeito: a dimensão ética do ser médico. A partir da análise das categorias, observou-se que tal encontro ocorre de diversas formas, principalmente pelo distanciamento como os médicos em questão lidam com a morte de seus pacientes, vista como um acidente, com falta de diálogo que, necessariamente, esbarra nas questões éticas e de formação acadêmica. A estrutura do fenômeno reside na ausência de diálogo pela dificuldade de lidar com os próprios sentimentos e emoções emergidas do processo de perda por morte de seus pacientes / What happens in the doctors encounter with the death of his patient says about human condition structuring which transcends academic formation and mobilizes in the presence of another human being.This is a qualitative research which had as its principal aim to describe and know what exists of structuring in the doctors encounter with the death of his patient. This study uses the phenomenological method of research, understood as an invitation to the reflexive exercise which aims the construction of new paradigms in the knowledge production.The fundamental author who substantiates the theorical analysis is Maurice Merleau-Ponty (2006). Four interviews with clinical oncologist doctors were made, based on the guiding question: What means to you to take care of the cancer patient, without the possibility of healing, who experiences his dying process and eventually lose him?After the interviews were made, the narratives (literal) were literalized, from which the analysis units were raised and transformed into phenomenologically analyzed categories, which enabled the intersubjective and objective dialog with the theoretical presuppositions about the subject under discussion.These categories are named: 1. Relation between doctor and patient: the unveiling of emotions and feelings; 2. Relation between doctor and patient: a detachment from the patients death; 3. The doctors encounter with death: the unpredictable death; 4. Construction of the subjects identity: the ethical dimension of being a doctor. From the analysis of the categories it was possible to observe that such encounter occurs in several ways, mainly by the detachment which the doctors from this study deal with the death of their patients, seen as an accident, with lack of dialog that necessarily touches the ethical and academic formation questions. The structure of the phenomenon dwells in the lack of dialog due to the difficulty to deal with ones own feelings and emotions emerged from the process of losing ones patients by death

La vaccination contre l’hépatite B est loin d’être un objet de consensus pour les médecins du quartier des pentes de la Croix-Rousse à Lyon. Cette diversité des opinions interroge quand cette maladie semble tuer aujourd’hui en France, sept fois plus que le VIH. Alors nous nous demandons comment se construisent les vérités de chacun et de quelle façon les médecins pensent leur capacité à se mettre en lien avec la réalité du vivant ? Pour tenter de comprendre, nous avons suivi la voie classique de l’enquête de terrain, et nous avons saisi l’opportunité méthodologique d’être à la fois médecin généraliste et chercheur, pour proposer un point de vue anthropologique original, et promouvoir la réflexivité. Ainsi, nous voyons comment les discours de vérité des médecins généralistes, alternatifs ou spécialistes, à l’échelle d’un quartier, prennent forme dans la construction des identités et les jeux de pouvoir qui règlent les positions de chacun. Ces mécanismes offrent aux soignants du sens, autant pour leur existence que pour leur pratique professionnelle. Mais les vérités sont aussi le résultat d’un authentique effort pour accéder au réel. La science est alors considérée comme le principal outil. Le médecin aime encore à trouver d’autres médiateurs, un maître ou une société savante. Et la question de l’expérience vient timidement en dernier, comme non politiquement correcte ou non politiquement souhaitable. Le savoir par l’agir et le voir de la pratique, semble pourtant le point commun de tous. La différence entre le scientifique et le praticien est ainsi questionnée, tout comme la pensée objectiviste des professeurs de médecine et de la science en général. / Vaccination against Hepatitis B is far from being an object of consensus for physicians in the district of the ‘pentes de la Croix-Rousse’ in Lyon. This diversity of opinions questions when this disease seems to kill seven times more than HIV nowadays in France. So we ask ourselves how to construct our truths and how doctors are thinking their ability to establish a connection with the reality of living? To try understanding, we followed the traditional path of the field survey, and we took the methodological opportunity to be both general practitioner and researcher to propose an original anthropological point of view, and to promote reflexivity. Thus we see how the discourse of truth of GPs, specialists or alternative practitioners at the local level, taking shape in the construction of identities and the power games that regulate each other's positions. These mechanisms provide meaning for medical professionals, both for their existence and for their professional practice. But truths are also the result of a genuine effort to access to the reality. Science is then considered as the main tool. Doctors still like to find other mediators, a master or a learned society. And the issue of experience comes timidly last, as not politically correct or not politically desirable. Knowledge through action and seeing things in practice, seems though the common point of all. The difference between the scientist and the practitioner is thus questioned, as the objectivist thinking of professors of medicine and science in general.

This study analyzes the leadership practice of two experienced female leaders from the health care sector to understand their decision-making processes as it relates to their personal theorizing. Ineffective and unethical leadership in American business is a reality in today’s society. Organizations are in need of leaders who approach leadership from a paradigm which supports effective leadership practice. It is my assertion regarding this study that effective leadership may be connected to a leader’s values which impact their leadership practice and decision-making. This study relies on a conceptual and theoretical framework based in Cornett’s (1990) Naturalistic Decision Making Model. It is imperative to the development of healthy learning organizations that the relationships influencing a leader’s naturalistic decision-making be explored. At the time of this writing, no naturalistic collective case study research in the health care industry has been completed to relate a leader’s naturalistic decision-making or personal practical theories (PPTs) as defined by Cornett (1990). Furthermore, research has not been explored in a field outside of education regarding the formation of a leader’s PPTs and the relationship between a leader’s experiences and leadership practice. Study findings demonstrated that Cornett’s (1990) naturalistic decision-making model (NDM) is a useful heuristic for a health care leader’s reflective leadership practice. Health care leaders’ perceptions of leadership are systematically achieved through the process of reflective thought which the NDM assists in emerging. The NDM is an efficacious tool for personal and professional development. The constructs of this model were effective in allowing the health care leaders studied to reflect on their leadership practice and decision making. This research found that the collective theme amongst the participants was a value-based leadership paradigm. The data collected in this research project suggests that the PPTs of health care leaders are developed through their life experiences. They are described in the context of their core values and leadership personal and formal theorizing. They are understood through their life experiences, interactions with other leaders, and interactions with those around them. Discovering the relationships involved with a leader’s naturalistic decision-making is of great importance to the educational and health care communities. It has the potential to impact human resources policies and training leading to stronger and more effective organizations. Understanding this phenomenon may lead to more reflective and thoughtful decision-making among health care leaders. It has the potential to impact organizational policies, structure, training, commitment, and profits. This may lead to healthier and intrinsically motivated employees and more effective learning organizations.

No description available.

Postoperative pain is of serious concern to patients and anesthesia providers alike. Management of a patients’ pain is a central component of anesthesia care. Ketamine as an anesthetic agent has been available for 50 years. It has been utilized as a general anesthetic and selectively as an anesthetic agent for high-risk patients. Due to dysphoric side effects associated with the dosage required to render general anesthesia, anesthesia providers may be reluctant to utilize this medication to its full potential. Recently there has been a resurgence of interest in ketamine as an analgesic agent. The researcher for this project performed a thorough literature review focusing on intravenous ketamine as an adjunct to standard opioid-based analgesia for postoperative pain. Four systematic reviews published in the last 10 years support the safety and efficacy of ketamine when administered intravenously in sub-anesthetic doses. The purpose of this project was to provide evidence-based education to anesthesia providers regarding the benefits of ketamine and follow-up to evaluate for evidence of changes in practice after the educational At a large community hospital data concerning ketamine utilization by anesthesia providers as a component of multimodal analgesia was collected for a six-month period, including three months pre- and three months post-educational intervention. Despite various methods utilized to present evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of ketamine, the results of this study demonstrated no significant change in practice. Based upon the extensive published literature the evidence is compelling that the addition of a sub-anesthetic (0.5 mg/kg) dose of ketamine to the surgical patient’s operative pain management plan would improve comfort and decrease opioid-related side effects with minimal negative impact.