Authors (including presenting author) :
CHAN OL (1), FOK YY (2) LAM CWF (1)
Affiliation :
(1) Anaesthesiology & Operating Theatre Services, Kwong Wah Hospital (2) Anaes & OTS, Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Introduction :
The Hong Kong Pain Service has emerged as a crucial component of healthcare in the region. With a growing aging population and an increasing prevalence of chronic pain, pain management is a multidisciplinary approach to ensures comprehensive and holistic care for chronic pain patients. The service encompasses a wide range of treatment options, including medication, physical therapy, psychological interventions, interventional procedures and patients’ collaboration.
Objectives :
(1)To reduce the long waiting time for out-patient referral; (2) to conduct initial assessment for all new referrals; (3) To provide early management plan delineated after the initial assessment; (4) to provide the quality of life of chronic pain patients
Methodology :
KWH and QEH nurse clinics were run by qualified nurses and provided out-patient nurse service which included early assessed new case, and treatment plan including chronic pain concepts and education, life style modification, drug monitoring and educated patients to actively participate in their own care for both new and subsequence patients. The waiting time of new case from 2021 & 2023, before setting up and initiating of nurse clinic was measured and compared. The clinical outcomes of pain intensity and pain interference in Brief Pain Inventory from 10/22 – 09/23 were measured.
Result & Outcome :
Total 219 patients recruited, Male: Female = 52 (23.7%): 167 (76.3%); age from 24-96; <60 years old: >60 years old = 39.4%: 60.6%. Need to follow up psychiatric service simultaneously was 28.1%. KWH: QEH= 115 (52.5%): 104 (47.5%). Average no of session/ patient: 3.25. Number of new case attendance and subsequence case in doctor was increased 35% and was reduced 5% respectively. Paired t Test was applied, Brief Pain Inventory adopt and compared the pain intensity of pre and post nurse interventions (M= 5.61, SD=1.98): (M=5.05, SD=2.06) (p<.05, one-tail, significant decreased of pain intensity) . Pain interference of pre-intervention: post-intervention (M= 5.05, SD=2.06): (M=4.34, SD=2.34) (p<.05, one-tail, significant decreased of pain interference). Chronic pain Nurse clinics have significantly increased access to health care by providing cost effective care that is quality-driven. Patients who have been cared in nurse clinic have decreased pain intensity and interference, improved their well-being, and were able to effectively communicate their needs more effectively to doctor’s clinic.
