Waiting in pain: a systematic investigation into the provision of persistent pain services in Australia.

Objectives: To document and describe outpatient persistent pain management services in Australia.

Design, Participants And Setting: Systematic survey conducted between 1 December 2008 and 31 January 2010 of 57 services providing outpatient care to adult clients with persistent pain, plus five specialised paediatric services throughout Australia.

Main Outcome Measures: Service structure, including funding processes; activity, including client numbers, access to specialised services (inpatient care, pain relief interventions); waiting times; and use of allied-health-professional-based pain management programs.