P Hu1, T Owens, D Harmon. 1. Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, St Vincent's University Hospital, Elmpark, Dublin 4, Ireland. kooliohu@hotmail.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acute Pain Services (APS) evolved in response to the desire for improved management of postoperative pain. AIMS: To assess the status of APS in teaching hospitals in Ireland. This information has not previously been available. METHODS: Postal questionnaires were sent to all teaching hospitals in the Republic of Ireland (n = 40). The questionnaire dealt with current and future APS. RESULTS: Thirty-one out of the 40 teaching hospitals returned a completed questionnaire (78% response). Seventy-one per cent of respondents had formalised APS of which 85% were established after 1990. Ninety percent of respondents selected postoperative pain as their primary target. Pain was included in quality assurance in 73% of hospitals and 87% of clinicians believed the trend in pain consultations is increasing. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a growing trend in pain management and publication of guidelines, only 71% (22/31) of teaching hospitals in the Republic of Ireland have such services. Further resources are needed to address this deficiency.
BACKGROUND: Acute Pain Services (APS) evolved in response to the desire for improved management of postoperative pain. AIMS: To assess the status of APS in teaching hospitals in Ireland. This information has not previously been available. METHODS: Postal questionnaires were sent to all teaching hospitals in the Republic of Ireland (n = 40). The questionnaire dealt with current and future APS. RESULTS: Thirty-one out of the 40 teaching hospitals returned a completed questionnaire (78% response). Seventy-one per cent of respondents had formalised APS of which 85% were established after 1990. Ninety percent of respondents selected postoperative pain as their primary target. Pain was included in quality assurance in 73% of hospitals and 87% of clinicians believed the trend in pain consultations is increasing. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a growing trend in pain management and publication of guidelines, only 71% (22/31) of teaching hospitals in the Republic of Ireland have such services. Further resources are needed to address this deficiency.
Authors: Mar Polo-Santos; Sebastián Videla-Cés; Concha Pérez-Hernández; Víctor Mayoral-Rojals; Mª Victoria Ribera-Canudas; Antonio Sarría-Santamera Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-01-08 Impact factor: 3.390