Ann Acad Med Singap
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The prevalence of chronic pain is well described in various parts of the world; primarily in Western societies such as Europe, America and Australia. Little is known of the prevalence of chronic pain within Asia or Southeast Asia. In view of the cultural and genetic variation in pain causation, manifestation and reporting, the findings of previous studies cannot be translated to Asian countries. Prevalence studies needed to be carried out to quantify the magnitude and impact of chronic pain within Asian countries to properly allocate precious health funds to deal with this important healthcare issue. We report the findings of the prevalence study within one Asian country: Singapore. ⋯ Though the prevalence of chronic pain was marginally lower compared other studies, the impact of pain was just as significant. In a rapidly ageing population such as Singapore, chronic pain is an important emerging healthcare problem which will likely exert increasing toll on the existing social infrastructure within the next 5 to 10 years.
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Ann Acad Med Singap · Nov 2009
Emergency department headache admissions in an acute care hospital:why do they occur and what can we do about it?
Many patients present to the Emergency Department (ED) complaining of headache and a significant proportion of these visits would result in hospital admissions. This study analyses the demographics, presentation, work-up, reasons for admission, diagnoses and outcomes of patients admitted with the chief complaint of headache--to identify possible ways of reducing such admissions. ⋯ Specific strategies addressing the various reasons for admission including physician training, use of evaluation protocols, imaging to exclude secondary pathology, a longer duration of treatment and evaluation in the ED, effective pain control and patient education may help reduce headache admissions.
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This study aims to evaluate the prescription patterns and side effects of oxycodone in a local hospital setting. ⋯ This is the first local audit that profiles oxycodone prescription patterns and its side effects. Prescription of oxycodone was appropriate for the majority of the study population. Patient assessment upon initiation of oxycodone therapy and titration of the drug to patients' pain symptoms was suboptimal. Oxycodone was well tolerated by the study population with minimal side effects. Further quality measures and ongoing education of clinicians will ensure future patients obtain safe and effective analgesia.
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Ann Acad Med Singap · Nov 2009
Efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy for patients with chronic pain in Singapore.
The use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques to manage chronic pain is relatively new and understudied in Singapore. Using data collected from group CBT programmes carried out at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH), we seek to explore the efficacy of the programme on pain intensity, self-efficacy, attitudes towards pain, and emotional factors. We also examined the efficacy of the longer 6- to 9-day group programme versus an abridged 2-day version called the Pacing Programme covering only some aspects of the full group programme. ⋯ These preliminary results provide some evidence supporting the efficacy of CBT techniques in chronic pain management and contribute to the growing body of evidence for the effectiveness of psychological and behavioural techniques in the management of chronic pain.
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Ann Acad Med Singap · Oct 2009
Comparative StudyComparative trial of the foot pressure patterns between corrective orthotics,formthotics, bone spur pads and flat insoles in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis.
The objective of the study is to compare the efficacy of fl at insoles, bone spur pads, pre-fabricated orthotics and customised orthotics in reducing plantar contact pressure of subjects with plantar fasciitis. ⋯ Pre-fabricated orthotics and customised orthotics reduced rearfoot peak forces on both sides while bone spurs heel pad increase rearfoot peak pressures. Pre-fabricated and customised orthotics are useful in distributing pressure uniformly over the rearfoot region.