Presented at the 2013 AAPM Annual Meeting « Back

Anesthesiology Faculty and Resident Perspectives on Evaluation and Management of Acute and Chronic Pain Patients

David D Nguyen, MD, dnguyenmd@gmail.com¹, Rene Przkora, MD PhD², Courtney Williams², (1) The University of Texas Medical Branch Department of Anesthesiology, League City, Texas, (2) Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas

Introduction: Anesthesiology faculty and resident physicians often evaluate and treat acute and chronic pain patients differently. Our study comprised 15 questions regarding evaluation and management of acute and chronic pain patients. Faculty and resident physicians from our Anesthesiology Department filled out this questionnaire after written consent. The survey included questions regarding treatment of acute and chronic pain, reliability of patient complaints, and the decision to refer to an Interventional Pain Physician. The four answer choices were defined in the survey and included: postoperative, acute, chronic, and cancer pain. Our study primarily focused upon similarities and differences in thought processes between Anesthesiology faculty and those that were in-training (residents and fellows) regarding acute and chronic pain patients. A total of 53 surveys were returned, and 13 of the 53 were from faculty while the remaining 40 surveys were returned from residents and fellows. Based upon data analysis, most faculty and in-training physicians felt more comfortable treating postoperative and acute pain. Both physician groups felt that chronic pain patients were more difficult to interact with and treat. Faculty physicians tended to use more objective data such as vital signs and activity level for treating chronic pain patients when compared to residents and fellows. In conclusion, there were more similarities than differences in medical thought processes between faculty and in-training physicians regarding evaluation and management of pain patients. Improving education and maturation of medical decision-making for these patients may ultimately lead to better patient care and significant quality improvements.

Funding: None.

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