N Alaouabda1, D Harmon. 1. Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine, Mid-Western Regional Hospitals, Dooradoyle, Limerick, Republic of Ireland. nabilal@hotmail.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To date, there is no information on anaesthetists' practice of chronic pain management in the Republic of Ireland. AIMS: To describe the pattern of chronic pain practice (CPP) among consultant anaesthetists in Ireland. METHODS: A detailed questionnaire was sent to all consultant anaesthetists in the Republic of Ireland (n = 254). RESULTS: The overall response rate was 50% (n = 127). While 28% of responding anaesthetists were involved in CPP, in the majority of cases, this accounted for less than 20% of their clinical time. 39% of those involved in CPP had previous training in chronic pain management. The types of CPP included nerve blocks (67%) and pharmacological treatment (44%) in non-cancer pain (67%) and cancer pain (61%) patients. Epidural steroid injection was the most commonly practiced intervention (89%). CONCLUSION: One-third of consultant anaesthetists in the Republic surveyed incorporate chronic pain in their practice and their pattern of practice is widely diversified.
BACKGROUND: To date, there is no information on anaesthetists' practice of chronic pain management in the Republic of Ireland. AIMS: To describe the pattern of chronic pain practice (CPP) among consultant anaesthetists in Ireland. METHODS: A detailed questionnaire was sent to all consultant anaesthetists in the Republic of Ireland (n = 254). RESULTS: The overall response rate was 50% (n = 127). While 28% of responding anaesthetists were involved in CPP, in the majority of cases, this accounted for less than 20% of their clinical time. 39% of those involved in CPP had previous training in chronic pain management. The types of CPP included nerve blocks (67%) and pharmacological treatment (44%) in non-cancer pain (67%) and cancer pain (61%) patients. Epidural steroid injection was the most commonly practiced intervention (89%). CONCLUSION: One-third of consultant anaesthetists in the Republic surveyed incorporate chronic pain in their practice and their pattern of practice is widely diversified.
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