P16S07: Neuropathic
pain medication (patient education)
Bottom line: Information on neuropathic
pain was used to
better understand a specific issue about a
patient (medication). There were no information-related patient health outcomes.
Level 1 outcome (situational relevance): On February 6, 2009, P16 did a search at work, by themselves, during
the encounter with a caregiver (in the presence of the caregiver). They
retrieved two information hits about Amitriptylin for neuropathic pain. The reported search
objectives were: to address a clinical question, and to share information with
a caregiver. “[It
was] with a friend [caregiver] of the patient. Someone [a man about 35 years
old] who came in to ask me information about the patient. So it was like a
third party. […] She [the patient, a woman in her thirties], had been
prescribed Amitriptylin. Her doctor prescribed it but she had heard things
about it from people and she didn’t want to take it [according to the
caregiver]. […] She thought maybe the dose might be too high
and she didn’t know if she would get addicted to it. […] He [the caregiver] asked [me] if it was a
dangerous drug or if it would help her. […] He was going to take back the information to
her.” According to P16,
e-Therapeutics+ was the only source for information, and the found information
was relevant.
Level 2 outcome (cognitive impact): The two hits were associated with a report of positive cognitive
impact (see table). Regarding confirmation, reassurance and reminder, P16 stated: “[…] I would have
been looking to confirm what I knew. It’s an older drug and I would have been
experienced with it so I was kind of just looking to make that my information
wasn’t outdated. […] It [the found information] confirmed that
the drug was still being used for this indication and the dosages. […][The
reminder was about] the dose range.”
Retrieved
information hits:
1) e-Therapeutics+ (CIRT): Therapeutics Tab – Keyword: Neurologic disorders – Neuropathic pain – Therapeutic tips – Table 3 (P16S07H01)
2) e-Therapeutics+ (CIRT): e-CPS – Keyword: Amitriptylin – CPhA monograph (P16S07H02)
Level 3 outcome
(information use): Information on Amitriptylin for neuropathic pain was retrieved,
and used to better understand a specific issue about a patient (information
used as presented in e-Therapeutics+). “I was able to
share [the information] with him [the caregiver]. I found out
what dose she [the patient] had been started at, which was an
appropriate dose. [I] talked about
some of the side effects she might see, but reassured him that it was a normal
starting dose and it wasn’t something that she would need to be alarmed about
starting.[…]They [the caregiver and the patient] didn’t seem to
have a lot of information about the medication and in fact, they had some
misinformation. So, I was able to clarify that for them. […]One of the
things, she [the patient] had been under the impression [is that] because it’s
used as an anti-depressant as well, she had though that she maybe had a wrong
drug. So, I was able to explain that it’s also used for pain.”
Level 4 outcome (patient health): Not applicable
(conceptual use).
Levels of outcome of information-seeking
|
Situational relevance |
Positive cognitive
impact |
Information use |
Patient health |
|
Address a clinical question Share information |
Reminded something Confirmed Reassured |
Understand issue |
No outcome |