Implementing Best Practice Pain Management in the Emergency Department: The IMPAINED Study

Pain is the most common reason people present to emergency departments but is often undertreated. This thesis examined how to improve patients receiving interventions such as timely analgesia and nurse-initiated analgesia. Using implementation science, we partnered with clinical staff to design and test practical changes to improve care. A key part of this research was the use of sustained implementation facilitation, involving ongoing, hands-on support that helped staff adopt and sustain new ways of working. Findings show that improving pain care is not just about knowing what works, but about making sure it fits into real emergency department practice.