April, 1999

Miaskowski, C., Crews, J., Ready, B., Paul, S. M., and Ginsberg, B. (1999). Anesthesia-based pain services improve the quality of postoperative pain management. Pain, 80 (1,2): 23–29.

This article reports the results of a quality improvement study that evaluated the impact of anesthesia-based pain services on patient outcomes. Twenty-three sites (12 with anesthesia based pain services) participated. The results indicate that the care provided by anesthesia-based pain services can have a significant impact on outcomes of care. Patients under the care of an anesthesia based pain service had lower pain intensity scores, lower levels of pain, lower rates of side effects (pruritis, sedation, nausea), and experienced less pain than expected. Patients were also discharged sooner, more satisfied with their pain management, and more likely to receive education about postoperative pain management. When differences in length of stay were compared for specific surgical categories, those undergoing orthopedic, thoracic, and OB/GYN procedures were discharged sooner. Patients who were not cared for by a pain service were significantly more likely to report that the method of pain relief was too painful, took too long, was too slow, and that they never got good relief, were concerned about bothering the nurse, and were concerned about becoming addicted. The study provides outcome information that would not be apparent if the provision of anesthesia based pain service was not identified as the independent variable. The authors suggest that the results may serve as benchmark data for other institutions who wish to investigate the impact of anesthesia pain services on outcomes. The study was sponsored by an unrestricted grant by Abbott Laboratories.

Last Updated: April 18, 2000