Open AccessPain and Pain Management in a Hong Kong Emergency Department
Author(s) -
Wong MT,
Ip M,
Graham CA
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
hong kong journal of emergency medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.145
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 2309-5407
pISSN - 1024-9079
DOI - 10.1177/102490791101800606
Subject(s) - medicine , emergency department , medical prescription , epidemiology , analgesic , attendance , pain management , physical therapy , emergency medicine , anesthesia , psychiatry , economics , pharmacology , economic growth
Background The prevalence of pain is high in emergency departments (ED), according to previous studies. There is little information on the epidemiology of pain in Hong Kong EDs. This study aimed to explore the epidemiology of pain in a single academic ED in Hong Kong, and to evaluate the pain management policy in the ED. Methods Retrospective case review study with explicit record review of ED clinical records; records obtained by means of systematic sampling of a seven‐consecutive‐day period attendance. Data on the prevalence and location of pain, waiting time for drugs for pain relief, and pain drug prescription rates were obtained. Descriptive data analysis was performed. Results A total of 494 ED clinical records were reviewed. The prevalence of pain was 60.7% (300/494) during the study period. 72.3% (217/300) of patient attendances with pain had duration of pain not exceeding three days; 79.0% (237/300) of them were classified as ‘semi‐urgent’ or ‘non‐urgent’. 41.7% (125/300) of patients suffering from pain were given drugs for pain relief. The median time for patients to receive analgesic drugs was 56.0 (IQR 25.0‐104.5) minutes after registration. Pain assessment using a numerical rating scale was positively associated with drug prescriptions for pain relief. Conclusion The prevalence of pain in ED patients was high, and comparable with the figures from studies in other EDs. Patients attending with pain had to wait more than 60 minutes for drugs for pain relief on average. (Hong Kong j.emerg.med. 2011;18:406‐411)