Baseline characteristics across the different hospital sites
| Variable | Quebec tertiary sites* n = 3 | Quebec community site† n = 1 | Ontario tertiary sites‡ n = 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean ± SD age, yr | 51.1 ± 15.2 | 46.2 ± 16.1 | 52.1 ± 16.2 |
| Female, % | 48.2 | 47.7 | 49.1 |
| Mean ± SD pain intensity at triage, 0–10 scale | 7.3 ± 2.2 | 6.6 ± 2.1 | 6.3 ± 2.8 |
| Type of pain condition, % | |||
| Renal colic | 17.8 | 21.7 | 28.0 |
| Fracture | 24.5 | 23.5 | 14.9 |
| Back pain | 17.0 | 13.0 | 21.1 |
| Neck pain | 3.2 | 1.5 | 2.5 |
| Other musculoskeletal | 19.2 | 17.6 | 12.4 |
| Abdominal pain | 7.1 | 8.4 | 9.3 |
| Other | 11.2 | 14.2 | 11.8 |
| Opioid prescription type, % | |||
| Morphine | 52.1 | 67.8 | 26.9 |
| Oxycodone | 13.3 | 4.3 | 0 |
| Hydromorphone | 31.8 | 26.9 | 51.9 |
| Codeine + acetaminophen | 0 | 0 | 10.6 |
| Tramadol + acetaminophen | 2.4 | 1.0 | 4.4 |
| Oxycodone + acetaminophen | 0.3 | 0 | 6.3 |
| Treated with opioid within the ED, % | 57.8 | 60.0 | 83.1 |
| Median (Q1–Q3) ED stay, h | 5.7 (3.9–8.5) | 5.7 (4.0–8.5) | 5.8 (3.5–8.2) |
Note: ED = emergency department, Q1–Q3 = first and third quartile, SD = standard deviation.
↵* Quebec tertiary sites = Hôpital Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Hôpital Enfant-Jésus.
↵† Quebec community site = Hôpital Jean-Talon.
↵‡ Ontario tertiary sites = The Ottawa Hospital, Victoria Hospital (London, Ont.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.