A prospective study of nurse initiated panadeine forte: expanding pain management in the ED.
BACKGROUND
This study describes an innovative pain management strategy that aimed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of timely analgesia for those patients in moderate pain and who experienced significant delay prior to medical assessment.


METHODS
A 12-week prospective exploratory study was conducted to evaluate the introduction of a triage nurse initiated schedule 4 drug. A panadeine forte policy was developed and a data tool formulated to evaluate the effectiveness and frequency of nurse initiated panadeine forte.


RESULTS
The average pre-pain score reported by patients was 68 mm and the median was 70 mm. The average post-pain score was 37 mm and the median was 35 mm. The average post-pain score reduced by 31 mm demonstrating a clinically significant change. A statistically significant (Wilcoxon signed rank test < 0.001) reduction in post-pain scores was also identified.


CONCLUSIONS
We identified a statistically and clinically significant reduction in post-analgesic pain scores for patients. Improving pain management can have a positive impact on patients in moderate pain who experience extended waiting times prior to medical assessment.
Fry
Margaret
M
Emergency, St. George Hospital Sydney, Australia. frym@sesahs.nsw.gov.au
Ryan
Jennifer
J
Alexander
Nerida
N
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000698:Analgesia / Q000451:nursing*; D001315:Australia; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003061:Codeine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000451:nursing; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014218:Triage / Q000592:standards
D004338:Drug Combinations; C526278:acetaminophen, codeine drug combination; D000082:Acetaminophen; D003061:Codeine