Name: Survey of Healthcare Professionals’ Satisfaction and Perceived Impact on Quality of Care with Pharmacy Pain Management Services
Start: 2025-04-24T12:00:00-0400
End: 2025-04-24T12:15:00-0400

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Thursday April 24, 2025 12:00pm - 12:15pm EDT

Olympia 1

Survey of Healthcare Professionals’ Satisfaction and Perceived Impact on Quality of Care with Pharmacy Pain Management Services
Alice Chang, Danny Basri, Jasmine Jones, Arielle Spurley

Background/Purpose:
Wellstar Kennestone Hospital (KH) initiated an inpatient pain management consult service to provide additional support for patients not managed by palliative care or anesthesia-led acute pain consult services. Previous studies have demonstrated that involvement of a pharmacy pain management service is associated with better pain control and functional improvement. There is limited research that describes healthcare professionals’ (HCP) perceptions on the impact of pharmacy pain management services. We evaluated HCP satisfaction with pharmacy pain management services and characterized their perceived impact on the quality of patient care.

Methods:
The survey was based on existing literature and prior feedback from HCPs. To enhance clarity, the survey was pretested with a multidisciplinary focus group including members of the KH Pain Assessment and Management Committee and external colleagues. The survey tool was updated based on respondents’ feedback. This study was conducted at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital from April 1, 2024, to July 31, 2024. A voluntary, anonymous survey using Microsoft Forms was distributed to prescribers (physicians and advanced practice providers), pharmacists, and nurses via email. Unit leaders also shared a link to the survey with their nursing staff during shift huddles. The study was approved by the Wellstar IRB, and informed consent was obtained from each respondent at the start of the survey to confirm their willingness to participate.

Results:
Of the 105 respondents, 86% agreed or strongly agreed the involvement of the pharmacy pain service improved patient care quality. Additional perceived benefits included professional confidence and efficiency: 82% felt increased professional confidence in their ability to provide quality care to their patients and 77% reported the pharmacy pain service allowed them to spend time on other patient care activities. Furthermore, 84% indicated improvement in the quality of communication between the treatment team and the patient and 86% noted the pharmacy pain service improves a patient’s understanding of the pain management plan and goals. Respondents expressed strong endorsement of the pharmacy pain management services in the comments section. However, while many comments suggested expanding the availability and scope of the pain consult service, only 68.6% preferred the pain management pharmacist independently make dose adjustments to currently ordered pain medications.

Conclusion:
The availability of pharmacy pain services resulted in a high level of satisfaction and perceived benefits amongst prescribers, nurses, and pharmacists. Most respondents reported that communication and patient understanding of their treatment were improved when the pharmacy pain management service was asked to assist in a patient’s care. Respondents supported expansion of pharmacy pain service availability. However, there was less support for pharmacists to be granted the authority to make independent medication adjustments. Further research is needed to explore differences in perceptions regarding advanced pharmacy practice roles to better understand the factors influencing HCPs’ views.

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