Patient Reported Outcomes
Patients with persistent pain conditions in a hospitalized setting (with or without acute pain) represent a diverse and complex population with varying degrees of pain related biopsychosocial dysfunction. While pain related physiologic outcomes (e.g., opioid consumption, objective physical therapy measures, etc.) play a role in assessing the trajectory of pain, they do not address patient’s perspective on the impact of pain or treatment efficacy. Such patient perspectives are critical due to an apparent discordance between provider and patient’s interpretation of recovery (Bream et al., Qual Saf Health Care 19(6), 2010). Patient centered perspectives offer the opportunity for shared decision making, problem identification, and improved provider–patient communication. Thus, due to the multidimensional experience of chronic pain, patient reported outcomes (PROs) are essential daily and longitudinal variables during the inpatient management of patients with pre-existing pain. This chapter will address patient reported outcomes applicable to hospitalized chronic pain patients with or without acute pain.
