A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Emergency Department Intervention for Patients with Chronic Noncancer Pain.

Background: Emergency Departments (EDs) are beginning to notify their physicians of patients reporting chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) who frequent EDs, and are suggesting that the physicians not prescribe opioids to these patients.

Objectives: We hypothesized that this intervention would reduce both the number of opioids prescribed to these patients by their ED physicians and the number of these patients' return visits to the ED.

Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial of this intervention in 13 electronically linked EDs.