The effect of an interprofessional pain service on nonmalignant pain control.

The effect of an interprofessional pain service on nonmalignant pain control.

Coffey Cory P; Ulbrich Timothy R; Baughman Kristin R; Awad Magdi H

American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

2019

2019-03

PURPOSE: The primary objective of this project is to evaluate an existing interprofessional, nonmalignant pain service by measuring the difference in patient pain scores (numeric rating scale-11) before and after a pharmacist-led pain education class and medication therapy management (MTM) visit. Secondary objectives include determining the percentage of pharmacist recommendations approved, patient satisfaction, and difference in immediate release (IR) and extended release (ER) opioid use before and after enrollment. METHODS: Baseline data was obtained from a retrospective chart review. Enrolled patients attended an educational pain class with the pharmacist. At the MTM visit with the pharmacist 3-14 days after the initial education class, the patient's pain score was assessed along with his/her medication use and a care plan was developed and forwarded to the referring provider for implementation. Three months after the pain class and participation in the MTM visit, patients were contacted via phone to complete a survey. The survey questions assess patient satisfaction with the pain education program, their current pain score, and their knowledge of information covered during the pain class. RESULTS: Patients reported an average pre-enrollment pain score of 8.3/10 (n = 39) and a post-survey pain score of 5.6/10 (n = 39). The IR opioid use averaged 19.7 morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD) at enrollment and decreased by 40% to 11.8 MEDD. The provider approval rate of the pharmacist recommended interventions ranges from 80%-92% depending on the pre designated disease state category. CONCLUSION: An interprofessional, nonmalignant pain service including a pharmacist-led class resulted in a decrease in average pain scores and MEDD in an underserved population.

chronic pain; pain management; pharmacist; medication therapy management; opioid

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