[Inpatient pain consultation service at a university hospital: a retrospective analysis of patient characteristics and the rate of the implementation of recommendations]. / Stationäre Schmerzkonsile einer universitären Schmerzambulanz : Eine retrospektive Analyse der Patientencharakteristika und der Umsetzungsrate der Empfehlungen.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to conduct an audit of a university inpatient pain consultation service and to examine the quality and the implementation of the recommended therapeutic measures. Factors that influenced the implementation should be identified. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All inpatients treated by the consultation service in the years 2009 and 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. Demographic patient characteristics as well as quality parameters of the consultation service and pharmacological and non-pharmacological recommendations and their implementation were analyzed. RESULTS: In total 1,048 requests for the consultation service were processed of which 39.7% of the requests were for patients with acute pain, 33.8% with chronic and 19.9% with tumor-associated pain. Measures recommended most were medication, physiotherapy and psychological treatment. Recommended medications were actually prescribed in more than 80%, physiotherapy recommended in about 75% and psychological treatment recommended in 47% of the cases. Only a few influencing factors for the implementation of the recommended measures could be identified. CONCLUSION: Many different pain states are seen in an inpatient pain consultation service. The recommendations given are implemented in most cases especially concerning the medication.