title: Topical pain relief: assessment of patient satisfaction with a novel compound containing at least ketoprofen.
abstract: The objective of this study was to assess perceived efficacy and patient satisfaction at a single point in time during a course of therapy with a compounded topical formulation containing at least ketoprofen in an anhydrous gel base. Patients aged 18 and older, currently using one of the topical pain relief compounds of interest obtained from Reed's Compounding Pharmacy in Tucson, Arizona, were recruited and then interviewed (in person or by telephone). Data collected during patient interviews were recorded on a form designed solely for the purposes of this study. Interiew questions pertained to the nature of the participants' pain, their assessment of their pain both before treatment with the medication of interest and at the time of the interview, frequency and duration of use of the pain relief gel, disclosure of any other pain relief medications used at the time, and overall satisfaction with the medication. Interviews were conducted with a total of 50 patients who had chronic pain conditions representing several different etiologies and anatomical locations. The average pain assessement score at the time of the interview (representing perceived pain after use of the topical pain relief compound) was significantly lower than the average before treatment pain assessment score (P less than 0.001). Perceived pain scores dropped by an average of 3.56 units after treatment with the gel (standard deviation, 2.28), or 44% (P less than 0.001). Neither increased frequency of application of the topical pain relief gel nor longer duration of use of the topical pain relief gel was associated with greater pain relief or changes in overall patient satisfaction with the preparation. Use of other pain relief midications(s) while undergoing treatment with the topical pain relief gel had no bearing on patient assessement of pain either before use of the gel or at the time of interview. The average overall rating of patient satisfaction with the topical pain relief product was 6.6 out of a possible 10 units (standard deviation, 3.13). Thirty-six patients (72%) rated their satisfaction with the topical medication of interest with a satisfaction score of > or = to 6, 10 patients (20%) rated their satisfaction with a score of 10 (completely satisfied), and 6 patients (12%) rated their satisfaction with a score of 0 (not at all satisfied). The lower the perceived pain assessment score at the time of the interview (after using the gel), the greater the patient satisfaction with the preparation. Moreover, the greater the difference between before-treatment and after-treatment pain assessment scores, the more satisfied with the preparation the patient was. Treatment of chronic pain with a topical pain relief compound containing at least ketoprofen in an anhydrous gel base is associated with patient satisfaction and perceived analgesic benefits. During the one-time interview, most patients reported a significant improvement in their pain relief, and the great majority of patients were very satisfied with the compounded topical treatment they recieved.
authors.affiliation: Reed's Compounding Pharmacy, Tucson, Arizona.
authors.forename: Jessie Jean M
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zugerman
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Reed