[Clinical-caring epidemiology of pain at the hospital--the ECAD-O project]

Pain continues to be underreported and undertreated, and resistances to the administration of morphine and opioids are one of the major drawbacks.

a. to activate a surveillance as part of routine care; b. to produce periodical reports to follow-up any improvement or changes in oppioid and specifically treatment of pain; c. to the groups of patients whose pain is undertreated; d. to create a multicentre network of hospitals willing and able to promote a permanent surveillance on pain and its treatment.

A cross sectional survey will be conducted in index days to collect data on the number of patients exposed to analgesics; the perception of health workers on the effectiveness of treatments administered; patients' satisfaction on pain control. A prospective surveillance on: a. adverse events; b. incident difficult cases (patients whose pain is not controlled or difficult to treat, e.g. because of comorbidities or contraindications to opioids).

Data produced will be analysed and presented for each participating centre and will be used for education, audit and quality improvement.