Background.  The role of physician variability in pain management is unknown. Objective.  To assess the role of physician variability in the management of pain and provide quantitative data regarding the status of pain management in Michigan. Design. A multi‐item mail survey was used to determine the physician's perceived knowledge of pain management modalities, goals, satisfaction, and confidence with pain treatment. Participants. The focus of this report was a group of 368 licensed Michigan physicians who provide clinical care. Results.  Overall, 30% of the study group reported no formal education in pain management, although younger physicians reported more education (correlation coefficient = −0.252, P < .001). The physicians reported greater confidence in their knowledge of meperidine than other Schedule II opioids (P < .001 ). In regards to the opinion that prescribing strong opioids would attract a medical review, the physician responses ranged from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). The median score for this scale was 4, accounting for 46% of the responses. The study group expressed less satisfaction with their treatment of chronic pain as well as lower goals for relief (mean: 3.8; 95% confidence interval: 3.7–3.9). Conclusions.  Lower expectations for relief and less satisfaction in its management may contribute to the undertreatment of chronic pain. Perceptions of regulatory scrutiny may contribute to suboptimal pain management. These preliminary data highlight physician variability in pain decision making while providing insights into educational needs.

Low pain relief goals and satisfaction with the management of chronic pain suggests the potential for its undertreatment. Our data highlight the variability in pain decision making and provide insight into the educational needs of physicians regarding chronic pain management.

Background Many women without preexisting stress urinary incontinence (SUI) who undergo vaginal surgery to correct pelvic organ prolapse will develop symptoms of SUI. A concomitant prophylactic anti-incontinence procedure may prevent SUI symptom development in women undergoing vaginal prolapse surgery. Purpose To present the rationale, design and methodology of a randomized controlled surgical trial (RCT), the Outcomes Following Vaginal Prolapse Repair and Mid Urethral Sling (OPUS) Trial. The primary aims of this RCT are to determine (1) whether the prevalence of post-operative urinary incontinence (UI) differs between stress continent women receiving vaginal prolapse repair with concomitant tension-free vaginal tape (TVT®; a sling procedure commonly used to treat SUI) and those with only sham incisions at 3 months post surgery (2) whether it is more cost-effective to place a TVT prophylactically than to treat the SUI symptoms postoperatively as they occur over a 12 month period after the index surgery.. The study also incorporates a patient preference trial (PPT). Methods Primary outcome, defined as signs (positive cough stress test), symptoms (per validated questionnaire) and/or need for treatment of SUI and its associated cost, at 3 and 12 months post-operatively. Secondary outcomes consist of group differences in lower urinary tract and prolapse symptoms, health related quality of life, measures of vaginal anatomy, and surgical complications. Limitations Given the invasive nature of surgical intervention trials, some individuals may be reluctant to agree with random assignment, potentially impacting result generalizability. To evaluate the magnitude and direction of non-participation bias, the PPT will enroll a sample of those who decline participation in the RCT but are otherwise eligible. Conclusion This sham-controlled RCT will provide important information for patients and surgeons regarding both the short- and long-term optimal treatment approach for stress continent women undergoing a vaginal surgery for prolapse. Non-participation bias will be estimated.

Management options for pressure ulcers include local wound care, surgical repair, and, more recently, topical application of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). PDGF is a glycoprotein that is mitogenic for mesenchymal cells and has been studied extensively for applicability in promoting the healing of chronic human wounds. Using data obtained from a multicenter clinical trial for the treatment of full-thickness pressure ulcers, a subset analysis was performed to investigate the outcome of salvage surgery for pressure ulcers, after incomplete closure occurred with the topical use of either recombinant human PDGF-BB (rhPDGF-BB) or placebo gel. At the University of Michigan Wound Care Center, subset data from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group clinical trial were reviewed to compare the effects of three concentrations of rhPDGF-BB on full-thickness pressure ulcers of the trunk with those of the placebo. Twenty-eight patients were enrolled and 27 completed the trial. An intent-to-treat analysis was used to evaluate data. If the ulcer did not heal by the end of the 16-week trial period, the surgeon, still blinded to the treatment group, offered salvage surgical repair of the pressure ulcer. Eleven patients underwent salvage surgical repair using myocutaneous flaps, primary closure, or skin grafts. Of three patients who received placebo followed by surgery, none progressed to full healing within 1 year. Of 12 patients in the treatment group who received rhPDGF-BB and salvage surgery, 11 (92 percent) ultimately healed the ulcers within 1 year after the start of the clinical trial. These findings suggest that treatment with rhPDGF-BB before surgery enhances the ability to achieve a closed wound over surgery alone. It must yet be determined to what degree rhPDGF-BB contributed to the excellent results seen in the rhPDGF-BB/surgery group. It is possible that rhPDGF-BB "primes" the local wound milieu to make it more responsive to complete closure following surgical treatment.