Emergency Department Clinician Experiences and Perceptions Regarding Noncardiac Chest Pain: A Cross-Sectional Survey

The objectives of this study are to report the responses of emergency department (ED) clinicians regarding the characteristics and management of patients with noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) and to explore clinician experiences with the current standard of care and whether nonpharmacologic or nonsurgical referral options would be considered.

A cross-sectional survey was delivered to 40 ED clinicians from hospitals in Winnipeg, Manitoba from 2012 to 2013. Data were reduced descriptively and thematically summarized to assess the characteristics of patients with NCCP along with the responses of ED clinicians regarding the management of NCCP.

The survey response was 27 (67.5% response rate). They reported that patients with NCCP comprised a considerable amount of ED care and are a variable and heterogeneous population. Respondents agreed (63.0%) that onsite and on-call providers for NCCP referral would assist in patient management. Further, ED clinicians (66.7%) would consider referring patients with NCCP to a nonpharmacologic, nonsurgical clinical research study.

Clinicians in this study wanted better access to on-site referrals and outpatient clinics for patients experiencing NCCP after discharge and would consider nonpharmacologic or nonsurgical referral.