Management of non-traumatic abdominal pain in the emergency department: a multicentre, stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Even though abdominal pain is one of the most frequent chief complaints in emergency medicine, standardized care pathways are still lacking. In this study, a standardized, digitally-supported care pathway for non-traumatic abdominal pain in the emergency department was investigated with regard to emergency department length of treatment, pain score at discharge, and patient satisfaction.

Methods

In a prospective mixed-methods, multicentre, cluster-randomised, controlled stepped wedge trial, adult patients with non-traumatic abdominal pain were enrolled in ten emergency departments across Germany. The new care pathway was implemented at randomly assigned time points (every four months) within a 24-month recruitment period and consisted of a structured care pathway

SUBMITTER: Slagman A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12268095 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature