ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to compare acute pain management and pain relief among the three major ethnic groups in Malaysia [Malay, Chinese and Indian] who presented with acute abdominal pain in the emergency room [ER]. A prospective observational study involving the use of questionnaires administered to 228 adult patients [Malay n=93, Chinese n=71, Indian n=64] attending a University Hospital ER in the State of Kelantan [located on the east coast of the Peninsular of Malaysia] with the chief complaint of, non-trauma related, acute abdominal pain [onset of pain within 24 hours]. A local acute pain management protocol for intravenous morphine usage was introduced and taught to all emergency room staff. This protocol requires the use of a titration dose of morphine to a maximum value of 0.1mg/kg body weight. The survey incorporated the use of a Visual Analog Scale [VAS] in the assessment of pain severity upon arrival at the triage counter and prior to patients' discharge from the emergency room. The percentage of VAS score reduction was calculated and divided into groups. Paired t and Anova tests were used to analyze the data using the SPSS program, Version 10.0