Effect of Complementary and Alternative Medicine on Pain Among Inpatients

Effect of Complementary and Alternative Medicine on Pain Among Inpatients

The proposed study has 3 aims: 1) quantitatively describe a model for delivering complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies to understand the selection of patients and CAM therapies used for pain management, 2) examine the effects of selected CAM therapies on immediate change in pain, and 3) examine the effects of selected CAM therapies on duration of pain change.

Positive results from this study will assist hospitals in the integration of usual care and CAM therapy for pain reduction. Findings may also drive future research on the cost effectiveness of these therapies for pain management, as well as the impact on patient outcomes such as length of stay and use of narcotics.

Aims 1 and 2 Inclusion Criteria:

• Admission to Abbott Northwestern Hospital
• Consent to release of electronic health record for research purposes
• 18 years of age or older
• Length of stay greater than 24 hours

Aims 1 and 2 Exclusion Criteria:

• None

Aim 3 Inclusion Criteria:

• Admission to Abbott Northwestern Hospital
• Length of stay greater than 24 hours
• 18 years of age or older
• Consent to release of electronic health record for research purposes
• Received CAM therapy in current hospitalization
• Pain level of 1 or greater at the pre-treatment assessment by practitioner
• English-speaking
• Integrative medicine therapy ended between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm

Aim 3 Exclusion Criteria:

• Refuses consent
• Unable to provide consent due to competency concerns
• Has declined study participation 3 times during current hospitalization
• Has hard declined during current hospitalization
• Has been approached 6 times during current hospitalization
• Has been approached to consent earlier that day