Make a CHANGE: optimising communication and pain management decisions

Area of Science:

• Pain Management
• Clinical Communication
• Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

• Chronic pain prevalence is high, affecting approximately 20% of individuals in Europe and the USA.
• Significant delays in referral to pain specialists and inconsistent pharmacological approaches complicate effective pain management.
• The multifactorial nature of chronic pain necessitates individualized treatment strategies beyond mere pain severity assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the understanding of chronic pain.
• To develop strategies for improving pain management.
• To introduce a tool for better physician-patient communication in pain management.

Main Methods:

• Presentation of evidence on chronic pain prevalence and treatment variations.
• Discussion on the importance of physician-patient communication and the efficacy/side-effect balance of analgesics.
• Adoption of the CHANGE PAIN Scale, incorporating the 11-point Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and six quality of life parameters.

Main Results:

• The CHANGE PAIN Scale (NRS) was adopted as a user-friendly tool to improve physician-patient communication.
• The scale allows patients to rate pain intensity and set individual treatment targets (ITT).
• It facilitates regular assessment of pain management efficacy, tolerability, and progress towards goals.

Conclusions:

• Effective chronic pain management requires tailored, individualized approaches.
• Efficient communication and setting realistic individual treatment targets are crucial for successful pain management.
• The CHANGE PAIN Scale aids in achieving personalized pain management by focusing on both pain intensity and quality of life.