Epidemiology of prehospital pain: an opportunity for improvement.

This retrospective, electronic patient care record review examined a consecutive sample of patients presenting with pain to the metropolitan region of Ambulance Victoria over a period of 12 months in 2008. The majority of patients did not achieve clinically significant pain reduction, but did achieve some pain relief while in ambulance care. Those with the most severe pain had pain reduction that was clinically significant. Further research is needed to provide optimal pain relief in the prehospital setting.