Abstract
Purpose: This qualitative study sought to identify perceived barriers to diagnosing and treating patients with chronic pain in the emergency department (ED). Basic Procedure: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 24 ED physicians from 4 hospitals to elucidate their experiences of managing chronic pain in the ED. Main Findings: Time limitations and a low triage priority were major barriers to caring for patients with chronic pain. But despite the inherent problems of treating a nonurgent condition in a time-limited setting, physicians were strong proponents for treating chronic pain in the ED. Principal Conclusion: Acknowledging that pain can neither be verified nor disproved, physicians tend to err on the side of the patient, often providing an allotment of opioid medications. They also believe that the ED is not an optimal setting for treating patients in chronic pain but that it is often the last resort for many of these patients, thus, providing the rationale for serving them to the best of their ability.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 255-263 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | American Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 2008 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Emergency Medicine
Cite this
A qualitative study of the barriers to chronic pain management in the ED. / Wilsey, Barth L.; Fishman, Scott M; Crandall, Margie; Casamalhuapa, Carlos; Bertakis, Klea D.
In: American Journal of Emergency Medicine, Vol. 26, No. 3, 03.2008, p. 255-263.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A qualitative study of the barriers to chronic pain management in the ED
AU - Wilsey, Barth L.
AU - Fishman, Scott M
AU - Crandall, Margie
AU - Casamalhuapa, Carlos
AU - Bertakis, Klea D
PY - 2008/3
Y1 - 2008/3
N2 - Purpose: This qualitative study sought to identify perceived barriers to diagnosing and treating patients with chronic pain in the emergency department (ED). Basic Procedure: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 24 ED physicians from 4 hospitals to elucidate their experiences of managing chronic pain in the ED. Main Findings: Time limitations and a low triage priority were major barriers to caring for patients with chronic pain. But despite the inherent problems of treating a nonurgent condition in a time-limited setting, physicians were strong proponents for treating chronic pain in the ED. Principal Conclusion: Acknowledging that pain can neither be verified nor disproved, physicians tend to err on the side of the patient, often providing an allotment of opioid medications. They also believe that the ED is not an optimal setting for treating patients in chronic pain but that it is often the last resort for many of these patients, thus, providing the rationale for serving them to the best of their ability.
AB - Purpose: This qualitative study sought to identify perceived barriers to diagnosing and treating patients with chronic pain in the emergency department (ED). Basic Procedure: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 24 ED physicians from 4 hospitals to elucidate their experiences of managing chronic pain in the ED. Main Findings: Time limitations and a low triage priority were major barriers to caring for patients with chronic pain. But despite the inherent problems of treating a nonurgent condition in a time-limited setting, physicians were strong proponents for treating chronic pain in the ED. Principal Conclusion: Acknowledging that pain can neither be verified nor disproved, physicians tend to err on the side of the patient, often providing an allotment of opioid medications. They also believe that the ED is not an optimal setting for treating patients in chronic pain but that it is often the last resort for many of these patients, thus, providing the rationale for serving them to the best of their ability.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=40749134928&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=40749134928&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ajem.2007.05.005
DO - 10.1016/j.ajem.2007.05.005
M3 - Article
C2 - 18358933
AN - SCOPUS:40749134928
VL - 26
SP - 255
EP - 263
JO - American Journal of Emergency Medicine
JF - American Journal of Emergency Medicine
SN - 0735-6757
IS - 3
ER -