Evaluation of Numerical Pain Scale Use in the Emergency Department at a Rural Community Hospital

Author
Cisneros, Martha
Danielson, Jennie
Deleal, Velvet
Affiliation
College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona
Issue Date
2006
Keywords
Numerical Pain Scale
Rural Community Hospital
Pain Assessment
Emergency Department
MeSH Subjects
Pain Measurement
Hospitals, Rural
Emergency Service, Hospital
Advisor
Herrier, Richard

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Copyright © is held by the author.
Collection Information
This item is part of the Pharmacy Student Research Projects collection, made available by the College of Pharmacy and the University Libraries at the University of Arizona. For more information about items in this collection, please contact Jennifer Martin, Librarian and Clinical Instructor, Pharmacy Practice and Science, jenmartin@email.arizona.edu.
Publisher
The University of Arizona.
Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate the use of the numerical pain scale at the Sierra Vista Regional Health Center Emergency Department in adult patients presenting with a chief complaint of pain. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on 299 charts of patients presenting to the emergency department with a chief complaint of pain. Results: Pain was assessed in 86.2% of 299 patients at triage, 26.4% post-intervention, and 58.2% at discharge. The average pain value reported by patients at triage was 6.3. Subsequent average pain value post-intervention was 4.1 and 2.9 at discharge. The average pain value at triage compared to the average pain value at discharge was statistically different (p<0.05). Conclusions: Pain assessment using the NRS is not being performed adequately in all patients presenting to the emergency department at SVRHC with a chief complaint of pain.
Description
Class of 2006 Abstract
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