Measuring Changes in Acute Pain in the Emergency Department Using Patient Reported Scales

Patient reported pain, stress, and anxiety measures have been found to be inter-related, but it is not known if they are all associated with receiving opiate medications. The objective of this study is to determine if patients' degree of reported pain, stress, or anxiety is associated with receiving opiate pain medications in the emergency department or at discharge. Alert patients at least 18 years of age and who report pain greater than 3/10 are eligible to participate in the study. Consenting patients complete Visual Analog Scales describing their perceived pain, stress, and anxiety from enrollment until discharge. Demographic data and administration of pain medication is also recorded. Visual Analog Scale scores among patients who received an opioid pain medicine in the emergency department and at discharge will be compared to those who did not.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Acute Pain

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 3630

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Minnesota
    • Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55415
      • Hennepin County Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients presenting to the emergency department at an urban county hospital.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Reported pain greater than or equal to 3 out of 10

Exclusion Criteria:

• Less than 18 years of age
• Decreased level of consciousness
• Inability to answer questions
• Prisoner

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
In pain; Patients who report pain greater than or equal to 3 out of 10 are eligible for this study.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Patient Described Stress	Patients describe stress by completion of 100 mm Visual Analog Scale, bordered by the words "no stress" and "most stress possible".	Immediately upon enrollment, every 30 minutes after until hospital discharge, and upon discharge, for up to 24 hours.
Change in Patient described anxiety.	Patients describe anxiety by completing 100mm Visual Analog Scale, bordered by the words "no anxiety" and "most anxiety possible".	Immediately upon study enrollment, every 30 minutes post-enrollment, and upon hospital discharge, for up to 24 hours.
Change in patient described satisfaction with ongoing treatment.	Patients describe satisfaction with ongoing treatment by completion of 100mm Visual Analog Scale, bordered by the words "not satisfied at all" and "completely satisfied".	Immeditately upon enrollment, every 30 minutes post-enrollment, and upon hospital discharge, up to 24 hours.
Change in patient described pain.	Patients describe pain by completing a 100mm Visual Analog Scale, bordered by the words "no pain" and "worst pain possible".	Immediately upon enrollment, every 30 minutes post-enrollment, and upon discharge, for up to 24 hours.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: May 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 1, 2013
• Study Completion (Actual): January 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 31, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 5, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): November 7, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): October 25, 2013
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 24, 2013
• Last Verified: October 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Pain; Anxiety; Stress; Opioid; Emergency department; Pain measurement; Demographics; Visual analog scale
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Disease Attributes; Emergencies; Acute Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: 10-3189