From analyses of individual patient data ( seven studies , 918 patients ) , we found baseline pain strongly associated with absolute , but not relative , MCID as patients with higher baseline pain needed larger pain reduction to perceive relief .
Conclusions The MCID in acute pain varied greatly between studies and was influenced by baseline pain , definitions of improved patients and study design .
Background The minimum clinical ly important difference ( MCID ) is used to interpret the clinical relevance of results reported by trials and meta-analyses as well as to plan sample sizes in new studies .
However , there is a lack of consensus about the size of MCID in acute pain , which is a core symptom affecting patients across many clinical conditions .
Nebulized fentanyl vs intravenous morphine for ED patients with acute limb pain: a randomized clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE Intravenous morphine has been used as a common method of pain control in emergency care . Nebulized fentanyl is also an effective temporary substitute . This study was design ed to compare the effectiveness of nebulized fentanyl with intravenous ( IV ) morphine on management of acute limb pain . METHODS This was a placebo-controlled , double-blind r and omized clinical trial . Ninety emergency department patients with moderate to severe pain aged 15 to 50 years were blocked r and omized and enrolled in this study . Forty-seven patients in the experimental group received nebulized fentanyl ( 4 μg/kg ) and IV normal saline as placebo , and the remaining 43 patients in the control group received IV morphine ( 0.1 mg/kg ) and nebulized normal saline as placebo . All participants ' pain scores were assessed by Numerical Rating Scale before and after intervention at 5- , 10- , 15- , 30- , 45- , and 60-minute intervals . Patients ' vital sign and possible adverse effects were recorded respectively . Finally , all participants were assessed for their satisfaction . RESULTS The mean initial pain score in the experimental group was 8.7 and 8.4 in the control group ( P = .1 ) . Pain relief in both groups after 5 and 10 minutes were similar ( P = .72 ) . Although the pain relief was significantly greater with fentanyl at 15 minutes , this difference is not clinical ly significant . Pain management in both groups was successful and was more than 3 scores reduction in Numerical Rating Scale . Patient satisfaction in both groups was similar . No adverse effects were reported in the experimental group . CONCLUSION This study suggests that nebulized fentanyl is a rapid , safe , and effective method for temporary control of acute limb pain in emergency department patients
From analyses of individual patient data ( seven studies , 918 patients ) , we found baseline pain strongly associated with absolute , but not relative , MCID as patients with higher baseline pain needed larger pain reduction to perceive relief .
Conclusions The MCID in acute pain varied greatly between studies and was influenced by baseline pain , definitions of improved patients and study design .
Background The minimum clinical ly important difference ( MCID ) is used to interpret the clinical relevance of results reported by trials and meta-analyses as well as to plan sample sizes in new studies .
However , there is a lack of consensus about the size of MCID in acute pain , which is a core symptom affecting patients across many clinical conditions .