Abstract PR287

Abstract

Background & Objectives: Specialist pain services can lead to advancement of care for people with chronic pain(1). Pain management services are deficient in the West Indies and patients continue to be managed by their primary physicians or have no treatment at all. This audit was conducted to determine the number and gender of patients presenting to the only chronic pain clinic in Trinidad,to determine the pathology of patients and interventions administered and to determine patients satisfaction with the service. Materials & Methods: - Ethics approval was obtained. - Retrospective audit conducted over a 10 month period at the only pain clinic in a public institution. - Standard brief pain questionnaire analyzed for data(demographics, pathology, interventions). - Retrospective telephonic interview conducted regarding patient satisfaction with the service. - Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score(HADS) questionnaire also analyzed. Results: Of the 29 patients in this audit,33 % of the patients were males.93% of patients were referred by orthopaedic services.Most patients had chronic non malignant back pain(see Figure).The mean age of patients was 53 years.37 % of patients had HADS for depression of greater than 10, whilst 30% had scores for anxiety of greater than 10. 8 interventional procedures were performed. 1 patient opted for alternative medicine, 1 had neurosurgery,11 needed psychology intervention and 6 patients opted for drug modality management. All patients needed physiotherapy.95 % of patients were satisfied with the service and wished they had known about the service earlier.Conclusion: The majority of patients were female and the most common complaint was chronic non-malignant back pain. A significant number of patients needed psychology input, which unfortunately is not readily available. Despite the many limitations of this service (lack of a multidisciplinary team, drug limitations, theatre time), patients were satisfied that finally there was someone to listen and attempt to address their pain issues.