Assessing patient satisfaction with pain management through a continuous quality improvement effort

A quasi-experimental study was conducted to evaluate patient satisfaction with pain management before and after a continuous quality improvement (CQI) project in a large, university medical center. The CQI project aim was to implement American Pain Society (APS) quality improvement guidelines regarding the recognition and prompt treatment of pain. A modified version of the questionnaire recommended by the APS Subcommittee on Quality Assurance Standards was used to survey 83 patients prior to implementation of the CQI effort and 89 patients one year later. Half of the patients reported moderate to severe pain both before and after the CQI project. Less than half-reported complete relief of pain after treatment. Despite significant levels of pain and ineffective treatment, greater than 90% of patients reported being satisfied with pain management. Responses to open-ended questions were analyzed. Findings from the study are being used to develop a medical center-wide action plan to guide further CQI efforts to improve pain management. (C) U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee, 2001.