Prospective study of pain and patient outcomes in the emergency department: a tale of two pain assessment methods.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Accurate pain assessment is essential in the emergency department (ED) triage process. Overestimation of pain intensity, however, can lead to unnecessary overtriage. The study aimed to investigate the influence of pain on patient outcomes and how pain intensity modulates the triage's predictive capabilities on these outcomes.

Methods

A prospective observational cohort study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital, enrolling adult patients in the triage station. The entire triage process was captured on video. Two pain assessment methods were employed: (1) Self-reported pain score in the Taiwan Triage and Acuity Scale, referred to as the system-based method; (2) Five physicians independently assigned triage levels and assessed pain scores from video footage, term

SUBMITTER: Ku NW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10594810 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature