The sex gap in acute pain: unequal care in the emergency department: a prospective cohort study
Year: 2025
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Acute pain is one of the most frequent causes in the emergency department. In recent years, it has been observed that there may be differences in analgesic treatment depending on the patient´s sex. Several studies describe how women are more likely to receive analgesia later and with less intensity than men for similar levels of pain. Biological and social factors, among others, on the part of both patients and healthcare professionals, could be the cause of these differences. Analyzing whether there are inequalities in the management of acute pain in the ED based on sex will be fundamental to promoting more equitable and evidence-based care. Objectives: The aim of the study is to determine if there are differences in the management and treatment of acute pain in the ED between men and women. The administration of analgesia, the type, the time until the first dose, initial NRS and triage level will be studied. Design: This is an analytical, observational, single-center, cross-sectional and prospective cohort study that will be carried out in the ED of Hospital Universitari Dr. Josep Trueta de Girona. Participants and methods: 780 patients will be included in each group using a consecutive sampling method in a period of a month. Patients aged =18 years who present to the ED with acute pain will be included. The variables for the study will be prospectively collected using the preconfigured “pain code” software, which automatically extracts data from the ED medical records
Author: Martin Fiz, Isabel Yun
Language: English
Topic: Sex and Gender in Healthcare
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7213475512