Evaluation of an oral patient-controlled analgesia device for pain management in oncology inpatients.

Abstract An oral, patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device uses radio-frequency identification technology to allow patients direct, controlled access to medication at the bedside. Twenty oncology inpatients partici-pated in a pilot study to evaluate the device’s design function and patient, nursing, and pharmacy satisfaction. The referring oncology physicians ordered oral pain tablets or capsules on an as-needed basis; the drugs were dispensed by the device with a specified lockout time interval and with a provision for administration of an immediate dose, if desired. In all, 95% of the patients reported that use of the device provided better pain control, since it allowed them to receive medication directly without de-lay. Further, 100% of the patients preferred using the device to calling a nurse for each dose of as-needed medication. All patients desired to use the device again during future hospitalizations if they required oral breakthrough pain medications. More than 80% of nurses surveyed stat-ed that the device was reliable and easy both to program and to query about medication-dispensing data. In addition, more than 90% of nurses reported that patients’ pain appeared to be better controlled when the device was used; they also indicated that the device saved them nurs-ing time. Pharmacy staff agreed that the device’s disposable medication tray was easy to fill; however, it did not save them time. The results of a Cronbach’s-alpha statistic calculated for patient and nursing question-naires showed these surveys to be reliable tools that featured consis-tent responses. The overall conclusion from this pilot study was that the oral PCA device was a useful, functional device that should improve pain management in selected patients in the acute care setting.medication.