Exploring Perceived Barriers and Facilitators for Implementing Acute Pain Clinical Trials: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Ketamine Infusions for Sickle Cell Pain.
Journal of pain research January 1, 2025 Martha O Kenney, Alexander T Limkakeng, Timothy N Ochoa et al. 1 citation
Barriers to a clinical trial of ketamine for acute sickle cell disease pain include lack of standardized protocols (50.6% of clinicians) and provider attitudes about ketamine (32.5%). Patients cited trust in providers and potential health benefits as facilitators but worried about safety, confidentiality, and time commitment. Clinicians showed varied comfort with ketamine, differing between sickle cell and emergency medicine specialists. Successful implementation requires multidisciplinary approaches, transparent communication, strong clinical frameworks, and patient-centered trial designs.