title: Improving pain management of abdominal pain in children presenting to the paediatric emergency department: a pre-post interventional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2007, the Mater Children's Hospital Emergency Department participated in the Emergency Care Pain Management Initiative funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council National Institute of Clinical Studies (NHMRC-NICS). The findings of this NHMRC-NICS research across eleven paediatric emergency departments highlighted deficits in pain management of abdominal pain. Specifically pain assessment, timeliness of analgesia, and pain management guidelines were found to be lacking.
  
  
  METHODS
  In response to the NICS report local practice was reviewed and a pilot research project undertaken to develop a clinical guideline for the pain management of abdominal pain in children presenting to the emergency department. The guideline was developed by an expert panel and trialled using a pre and post intervention design.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results demonstrated improved compliance to assessment and documentation of pain scores and assimilation of the best practice principles recommended in the guideline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This project raised local awareness in the pain management of abdominal pain and provides baseline information for future improvement. The guideline has been trialled in the clinical setting of paediatric emergency and has the potential to improve pain management practices in children presenting to the emergency department with abdominal pain.
authors.affiliation: Mater Children's Hospital, Emergency Department, Brisbane, Australia. Suzanne.williams@mater.org.au
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Kerri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Holzhauser
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bonney
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Burmeister
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gilhotra
authors.forename: Randall
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics