An interview with Daniel Carr and Ada Jacox. Interview by Carmella A. Bocchino

When clinicians are aware of inappropriate variations in practice and have access to science-based recommendations for care, they usually change their practice styles and prescribing behavior. The first in a series of guidelines supported by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, "Acute Pain Management," was released in early March and recommended an aggressive, proactive, and collaborative approach to managing pain in patients recovering from surgery, medical procedures, or trauma cases. Co-chairs of the pain management panel, Drs. Daniel Carr and Ada Jacox, share their views on guideline design, the expert panel, consensus building, and their expectations for use by the clinical practice and research communities.