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Pain management after discharge from the ED
Scott E McIntosh1, Stephen Leffler
1College of Medicine and the Department of Emergency Medicine, Fletcher Allen Health Care, University of Vermont, Burlington 05401, USA.
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
|March 11, 2004
Summary
Most emergency department patients report satisfaction with pain management after discharge. However, not filling prescriptions correlated with lower satisfaction, highlighting a gap in post-visit pain control.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Pain Management
- Patient Outcomes
Background:
- Pain management is a critical, yet often overlooked, component of emergency care.
- Understanding post-discharge pain management is essential for improving patient experience and outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the adequacy of pain management for patients after emergency department (ED) discharge.
- To assess patient adherence to prescribed pain medications and identify factors influencing satisfaction.
Main Methods:
- A telephone survey was conducted with 144 patients treated in the ED for orthopedic complaints.
- A standardized questionnaire assessed prescription-filling, medication side effects, healthcare interventions, and pain relief adequacy.
Main Results:
- 77% of patients discharged with pain medication were satisfied with their pain relief.
- 13% of patients did not fill their prescriptions, with lower satisfaction (67%) among this group.
- Minor side effects were reported by 26% of patients; 7% drove while taking narcotic analgesics.
Conclusions:
- Emergency department patients generally report satisfaction with pain control post-discharge.
- Prescription adherence is linked to higher pain management satisfaction; non-adherence warrants further investigation.
- While most pain management is adequate, potential risks like driving under the influence of analgesics require attention.