Research Article
Chronic Pain in the Emergency Department: A Pilot Mixed-Methods Cross-Sectional Study Examining Patient Characteristics and Reasons for Presentations
Table 2
(a) Primary pain problem. (b) Healthcare usage data.
(a) |
| | | % |
| Location | | | Lower back | 18 | 31.0 | Abdomen | 11 | 19.0 | Joint pain | 8 | 13.8 | Headache/migraine | 7 | 12.1 | Leg | 5 | 8.6 | Pelvic/genital | 4 | 6.9 | Chest | 3 | 5.2 | Neck | 2 | 3.4 | Use of any opioid | 42 | 72.4 | Strong opioids (oxycodone, morphine, hydromorphone, etc.). | 32 | 55.2 | Weak opioids (tramadol and codeine) | 24 | 41.4 |
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Please note that some participants were on more than one medication.
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(b) |
| Access to PCP (% with a family physician) | 84.5% | Number of PCP visits for pain in 12 months prior to study visit (mean, SD) | 8.1 (10.2) | Median (Q1–Q3) | 4 (1–12) | Range | 0–50 | Number of visits to the ED 12 months prior to study visit (mean, SD) | 5.4 (10.0) | Median (Q1–Q3) | 1 (0–4) | Range | 0–55 | Number of admissions for pain in the past 12 months prior to study visit (mean, SD) | 2.9 (4.7) | Median (Q1–Q3) | 1 (1–3) | Range | 1–20 | Hospitalization days for pain in the past 12 months prior to study (mean, SD) | 14.9 (25.8) | Median (Q1–Q3) | 8 (5–13) | Range | 2–105 |
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Note. PCP: primary care physician; ED: emergency department.
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