Implementation and evaluation of a quality improvement process to improve pain management in a hospice setting.
The purpose of this article is to describe the implementation and evaluation of a quality improvement process to improve pain management in a hospice setting. A retrospective chart audit of 702 patient visits pre- and 536 patient visits post-implementation of quality improvement strategies measured five aspects of pain management: complaints of pain, severity of pain, changes in patient's pain medication regime required, patient and family teaching, and use of complementary therapies. Of these measures a significant change was found in the documentation of pain assessment, recognition of changes required in the medication regime, and patient and family teaching.
Duggleby
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Austin State University, Division of Nursing, UT Houston Health Sciences Center, Nacogdoches, Texas, USA.
Alden
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C
D017051:Hospice Care / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009731:Nursing Audit; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010146:Pain / Q000451:nursing*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*