**9. Conclusion**

This chapter has elaborated the mechanisms of postoperative pain after thoracic and breast surgery, which is generally short-term and acute in nature. Inadequate pain management can exert profound and negative impacts on the recovery of patients. In addition, various patient factors and surgical factors not only predict the development and intensity of postsurgical pain, but also influence how patient responds or copes with pain after surgery. To promote the recovery after surgery, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain relief methods are recommended to be integrated as a multimodal pain management plan for patient awaiting surgery. Indeed, adequate, and effective multimodal pain management plans require appropriate regimen and dose of individual analgesic agents to minimise the side effects of

*Non-Pharmacological Management of Acute Pain after Breast and Thoracic Surgery DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109863*

medication, as well as tailored non-pharmacological therapies that consider patient's preference. For future research, high-quality experimental studies are warranted to provide evidence on the delivery of non-pharmacological therapies among different populations within their unique social and cultural contexts. Moreover, exploring the mechanisms of non-pharmacological therapies on pain relief is needed to enhance the potential effects of such therapies. To enhance pain management in clinical praxis, the selection and delivery of pain management therapies should consider patient factors, especially patients' preference, to promote the efficacy of their multimodal pain management plans.
