NCT03881982

A Novel Electronic Method of Collecting Pain Scores in the Emergency Department

Patient Input Monitoring of Pain in the Emergency Room: Novel Electronic Log (PIMPERNEL). A Randomised Controlled Trial of an Electronic Pain Score Display in Adults in the Emergency Department

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 105 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Leicester · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Can a novel electronic display of pain be successfully used in the emergency department and does it (1) change analgesic prescription and (2) change amount of pain experienced? Pain is a common symptom in emergency care. As patients are seldom reassessed, staff may not be aware of pain. Currently, members of nursing or medical staff need to ask patients about their pain and record it manually using a visual analogue scale from 0-10. The new electronic display uses buttons to represent a pain scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain). Patients will select the number that best corresponds to their pain every 15 minutes. In the experimental group, the score will be displayed on a screen. In the control group, the score will not be displayed. The investigators will compare the overall amount of pain in both groups, and will look at their pain management (painkillers prescribed). The investigators will also ask patients and staff for their opinions on the display. The study will include adult patients in the emergency department at Leicester Royal Infirmary with an initial pain score of 5 or more who are able to make a decision about whether to participate. Participants will also need to be likely to stay in the hospital for more than 2 hours to allow the investigators to gather enough useful data. The study will recruit 200 participants. If the study can demonstrate that the monitor is acceptable to patients and staff and results in improved pain management, it is a low cost intervention which could be widely implemented within the NHS. It also has the potential for being used in other areas such as surgical wards. The investigators have previously found that 300-400 patients per week in the department have moderate to severe pain and might therefore benefit from this monitor.

Conditions

• Pain, Acute

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	PIMPERNEL Novel Electronic Log: Pain display can be seen	Pain scores are displayed on the screen when the participant presses the corresponding button
OTHER	PIMPERNEL Novel Electronic Log: Pain display is hidden	Participants press the buttons to record their pain score but the score is not on display (the screen is turned backwards).

Timeline

• Start date: 2017-08-03
• Primary completion: 2019-07-31
• Completion: 2019-07-31
• First posted: 2019-03-20
• Last updated: 2020-01-30

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United Kingdom