Key Findings
- Purpose
To evaluate whether a brief, structured educational intervention could improve EM residents’ knowledge and perceptions about SCD. - Population
The study involved 17 EM residents from the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, across 1st to 3rd years of training. Sixteen residents completed both pre- and post-intervention assessments. This single-site pilot focused on a cohort likely to frequently encounter patients with SCD in the emergency department (ED) setting. - Headline Result
The study demonstrated an increase in overall SCD knowledge scores of approximately 40 points after a 40-minute interactive lecture incorporating patient experience audio and clinical content. Improvements were most notable in the domains of stroke risk, pain management, and ED care protocols. Importantly, negative perceptions and concerns about drug-seeking behaviors (“red-flag” perceptions) decreased significantly, while positive perceptions increased. Beliefs about pain exaggeration did not significantly change. - Why It Matters
ED frequently serves patients with SCD who face delays in pain treatment. Enhancing provider knowledge and addressing misperceptions through targeted education can improve care quality and strengthen EM’s readiness to deliver SCD care. - Evidence Gaps
Single-site pilot design with a small sample size; immediate post-intervention assessment, lacking longer-term follow-up or patient outcome data such as patient satisfaction and clinical evidence.
Source: Journal of Sickle Cell Disease – Assessing the effect of an educational intervention on emergency medicine residents’ knowledge and perceptions of SCD: a pilot study
Regulatory & Guideline Watch
The American Society of Hematology’s 2020 SCD guideline recommends rapid (within 1 hour of ED arrival) assessment and administration of analgesia with frequent reassessments (every 30-60 minutes) to optimize pain control. Patient preferences for acute-pain management should be incorporated into the shared decision-making process, and patient education on limitations and harms of opioid therapy should be included in the discussion.
https://ashpublications.org/bloodadvances/article/4/12/2656/460974/