An updated audit of the patient selection process for pain management programmes in a speciality care service before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The provision of pain management programmes (PMPs) changed substantially in response to the COVID-19 pandemic with virtual delivery implemented in many services. Little is known about patient selection processes for virtual PMPs and how this might differ from in-person programmes. The aim of this audit was to document the patient selection process for PMPs at a speciality pain service prior to and during the pandemic.

Assessment and patient selection process for a pain management programme: a case study in specialty care.

Introduction: The present study audited the process of assessing and selecting patients for a pain management programme with the aim of reviewing best practice in the light of the latest British Pain Society guidelines for pain management programmes for adults. The guidelines include defined inclusion/exclusion criteria and it was explored how they are used by clinicians providing a pain management service.

Method: The records of 200 consecutive patients who attended a multidisciplinary assessment for a central London specialist Pain Management Service from September 2014 to December 2014 were audited.

Clinical effectiveness of a residential pain management programme - comparing a large recent sample with previously published outcome data.

Objective: Observational studies using routinely collected data indicate that pain management programmes (PMPs) based on cognitive-behavioural principles are associated with clinically meaningful improvements for individuals with chronic pain. This study evaluated change across functional measures in a sample of chronic pain patients attending a 4-week residential PMP between 2006 and 2010. The findings were directly compared with published outcomes from an earlier period (1989-1998) at the same service.

Development and psychometric evaluation of the Basic Documentation for Psycho-Oncology, a tool for standardized assessment of cancer patients.

Objective: This study describes the development and psychometric evaluation of the Basic Documentation for Psycho-Oncology (PO-Bado), an expert rating scale designed for the comprehensive assessment of psychosocial and physical distress in cancer patients. While there are many self-report measures (usually used for screening purposes), the PO-Bado is the first standardized clinician-administered instrument to guide professionals in a focused and structured psycho-oncological assessment.

Methods: The validation procedure was performed in 596 patients from different settings of cancer care, including all cancer sites and stages of the disease.