Patient Controlled Analgesia Pump Cues on Patient Satisfaction

The Effect of Patient Controlled Analgesia Pump Cues on Patient Satisfaction

To examine whether providing patients with a cue to the availability of pain medication affects patient satisfaction, patient anxiety, PCA efficacy, and safety.

Post-operative pain is primarily managed via Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA). The newest PCA pumps can be programmed so that the button is backlit with a green light at the end of the lockout period, and the green light flashes when the medication is being dispensed. No studies have examined whether this type of visual cue would influence satisfaction or other patient outcomes (such as opioid consumption, PCA safety and patient anxiety) in children and adolescents, and no studies have examined whether pediatric patients' perspectives would be similar to those of adults.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 7-18 years
• Opioid naïve
• Scheduled for a surgery for which a PCA is routinely used for post-operative pain management
• At least 1 parent speaks English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior experience with PCA
• Cognitive delay precluding independent use of the PCA button
• Current use of anxiolytics or antidepressants
• Patients receiving epidural analgesia