Survey: Re-opening of Chronic Pain Services during COVID-19

Published: 20/04/2021

Methods

Over the data collection period in August 2020, all Faculty Fellows were invited to participate in the survey.   The survey was undertaken electronically and contained demographic questions, specific questions related to COVID and questions designed to investigate changes from usual, pre-covid practice.  This covered both outpatient pain services and in-patient services.  Information about the satisfaction and experience of remote consultation was collected. The survey investigated barriers to best practice and the viewpoints of Pain Doctors.  In addition, there were questions related to safety and the availability of PPE.  There were a total of 21 questions.  

Thematic analysis of the raw data was undertaken on answers from open questions.  In the analysis, responses were divided into themes by one investigator not involved in the survey development.  This was then validated by two further PSC Faculty members who had not been involved in the data analysis. Wider data is made available to create an audit trail.