Evaluation of the Effectiveness and Nature of Analgesia in the Medical-Surgical Emergency Department of CHU-Donka

Abstract

Introduction: Pain assessment is an essential step towards pain relief. In our context, however, it is insufficient in emergency departments. The aim was to assess the nature and effectiveness of the analgesia used in the emergency department of the CHU-Donka. Method: This was a single-centre prospective observational study conducted over one month (November 2020) in the medical-surgical emergency department of CHU-Donka. All patients aged 18 or over admitted to the emergency department with moderate to severe acute pain were included. Results: We enrolled 880 patients, 615 of whom (69.88%) were in pain. Males predominated (65.2%), with a sex ratio of 1.87. The average age was 44.78 ± 16.41 years, with extremes ranging from 18 to 85 years. The most represented age group was 18 - 34 years, with 66.18%. Initial assessment of pain by nursing staff in 3 cases. Initial assessment of pain by the investigator was 100%, 74% moderate and 26% severe. No reassessment of pain by nursing staff. Reassessment by the interviewer was 100% and found 5% no pain, 61% mild pain, 24% moderate pain and 10% severe pain. With an average numerical scale of 3.77 ± 2.61 and extremes from 0 to 10. Average length of stay was 2.85 ± 1.48 hours, with extremes ranging from 45 minutes to 8 hours. Analgesia was administered with paracetamol alone (43.58%), combined with tramadol or nefopam. No patient received morphine. Conclusion: This study revealed a lack of pain assessment in our department.