Deploying PainPad for Patient Pain Logging in the Hospital: A 6-Year Deployment

Abstract

Monitoring patients’ pain is essential in clinical contexts, particularly post-surgery. However, collecting pain data is time-consuming and relies on manual data capture by clinical staff. Few studies assess the efficacy of pain-logging technology in a long-term, ecologically valid manner. We report on a 6-year deployment of a minimalist pain-logging device, the PainPad, in post-surgery orthopaedic wards in a large UK hospital. Our data show that patients (n > 500) tend to submit more pain scores that are at a higher rating compared to nurse-collected data. Interviews with the nursing staff using the device highlight the importance of understanding the complexities of the context of use when..