Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
2605918 Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal 2010 5 Pages PDF
Abstract

SummaryObjectivesTo improve pain management of patients presenting to the emergency department with traumatic injuries through the development and implementation of a trauma pain guideline.MethodsA retrospective review of 100 Emergency Department trauma patients (50 intubated and 50 non-intubated) was conducted in June 2005. Pain management guidelines were developed by the multidisciplinary group and implemented through intensive staff education in December 2005 and again in February 2006. A second review was conducted in April–June 2006.ResultsThere was a significant increase in the number of intubated patients receiving analgesia in the post-implementation group, 32% (16/50) compared to 68% (34/50) (p = 0.0002). Use of morphine and midazolam infusions, a specific recommendation of the guideline, increased from 16% (8/50) to 36% (18/50) (p = 0.02), and the use of sedation (other than midazolam) together with analgesia increased from 16% (8/50) to 32% (18/50) (p = 0.02).In the non-intubated group the use of analgesia increased from 86% (43/50) to 100% (50/50) (p = 0.006). Median time to analgesia decreased from 38 min to 14 min and the use of multimodal analgesia increased from 30% (15/50) to 61% (30/50) (p = 0.002).ConclusionThe implementation of trauma pain management guidelines and associated education has resulted in improved analgesic use in trauma patients in the emergency department.

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