Audit of pain management in the emergency department

Med J Malaysia. 2011 Jun;66(2):89-91.

Abstract

Pain management in Malaysian Emergency Departments has not been studied well. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 402 patients who presented with acute pain over a 2-week period. The 11-point Numerical Rating Scale was used to quantify pain. Pain relieving medications were prescribed to 178 patients (44.3%) in the Emergency Department. These patients had a median pain score of 7 on arrival. Nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs were the most commonly prescribed class of analgesic. Pain was found to be inadequately treated.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analgesics / therapeutic use*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Emergency Service, Hospital*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Malaysia
  • Male
  • Medical Audit
  • Pain Management*
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'

Substances

  • Analgesics