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Intervention Study with Algoplus®: A Pain Behavioral Scale for Older Patients in the Emergency Department.
- Source :
-
Pain Practice . Jun2017, Vol. 17 Issue 5, p655-662. 8p. 3 Graphs. - Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Objectives Evaluation of acute pain is often difficult in older patients admitted to the Emergency Department ( ED), and self-evaluation of pain is not always possible. This observational study evaluates how the systematic use of Algoplus®, a validated behavioral scale, could improve pain management of older persons admitted to the ED. Method The intervention study ( NCT 02258503) took place in 4 steps in the ED, University Hospital Clermont-Ferrand, France. Pain assessment and analgesics prescription were collected from medical files for 3 months. For 6 months, the whole staff of the ED were trained on pain assessment and to use Algoplus® scale (3-same as step 1). To evaluate the intervention, pain assessment and analgesics prescription were compared before and after implementation by 2-sided tests with a type I error set at α = 0.05. Results The intervention led to systematic pain evaluation with Algoplus® in 100% of patients (≥ 75 years old, n = 434) and was completed by numeric rating scale ( NRS) and other evaluations. Pearson's correlation between NRS ≥ 3 and Algoplus® < 2 was 0.61. Prescription of analgesics (+6%) especially opioids increased nonsignificantly but was similar for all patients whatever the evaluation. Conclusions The systematic introduction of Algoplus® scale in the ED allowed a change in practice by improving evaluation and management of pain in patients ≥ 75 years old, especially when difficult to be evaluated. Algoplus® allowed an objective levelling of analgesics prescription in all admitted patients. It also promoted field action to improve pain management in ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 15307085
- Volume :
- 17
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Pain Practice
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 123349713
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/papr.12498