Andréa Dépelteau1, François Racine-Hemmings2, Émilie Lagueux3, Catherine Hudon4. 1. École de réadaptation, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Québec J1H 5N4, Canada. Electronic address: Andrea.Depelteau@Sherbrooke.ca. 2. Département de médecine de famille et de médecine d'urgence, Université de Sherbrooke, Pavillon Z7-local 3007, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Québec J1H 5N4, Canada. Electronic address: Francois.Racine-Hemmings@USherbrooke.ca. 3. École de réadaptation, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Québec J1H 5N4, Canada; Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Québec J1H 5N4, Canada. Electronic address: Emilie.Lagueux@USherbrooke.ca. 4. Département de médecine de famille et de médecine d'urgence, Université de Sherbrooke, Pavillon Z7-local 3007, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Québec J1H 5N4, Canada; Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Québec J1H 5N4, Canada. Electronic address: Catherine.Hudon@USherbrooke.ca.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Emergency department (ED) overcrowding is an important issue in healthcare worldwide. A small group of patients account for a disproportionate number of ED visits and a few studies have suggested that chronic pain (CP) sufferers may be part of that group. The aim of this study was to review all studies having examined the association between CP and frequent use of ED services. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed. The CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed and Scopus databases were searched from January 1997 to August 2019, using a strategy containing the keywords frequent use, CP and ED. Two independent reviewers screened articles and assessed methodological quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool for prevalence studies. To be included in the review, studies had to: (1) document frequent use of ED services; (2) evaluate CP patients; and (3) use regression models. Studies were excluded if they addressed cancer pain; evaluated an intervention; or targeted an exclusively paediatric population. A narrative synthesis was conducted. RESULTS: Of the 1182 articles identified, 927 remained after removing duplicates and 47 remained after the evaluation of titles and abstracts, which were read completely. Finally, five articles, published between 2004 and 2016, were included in the study. Every study showed that CP was associated with higher ED visits. Two studies documented that frequent users had a higher level of disability than non-frequent users, or that disability was associated with frequent use. CONCLUSIONS: This review suggests that CP is associated with frequent use of ED services.
INTRODUCTION: Emergency department (ED) overcrowding is an important issue in healthcare worldwide. A small group of patients account for a disproportionate number of ED visits and a few studies have suggested that chronic pain (CP) sufferers may be part of that group. The aim of this study was to review all studies having examined the association between CP and frequent use of ED services. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed. The CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed and Scopus databases were searched from January 1997 to August 2019, using a strategy containing the keywords frequent use, CP and ED. Two independent reviewers screened articles and assessed methodological quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool for prevalence studies. To be included in the review, studies had to: (1) document frequent use of ED services; (2) evaluate CP patients; and (3) use regression models. Studies were excluded if they addressed cancer pain; evaluated an intervention; or targeted an exclusively paediatric population. A narrative synthesis was conducted. RESULTS: Of the 1182 articles identified, 927 remained after removing duplicates and 47 remained after the evaluation of titles and abstracts, which were read completely. Finally, five articles, published between 2004 and 2016, were included in the study. Every study showed that CP was associated with higher ED visits. Two studies documented that frequent users had a higher level of disability than non-frequent users, or that disability was associated with frequent use. CONCLUSIONS: This review suggests that CP is associated with frequent use of ED services.
Authors: Zahabiya Campwala; Gregory Davis; Olga Khazen; Rachel Trowbridge; Melisande Nabage; Rohan Bagchi; Charles Argoff; Julie G Pilitsis Journal: Front Pain Res (Lausanne) Date: 2021-11-22