A DISTRICT-GENERAL-HOSPITAL - PAIN MANAGEMENT PROGRAM - FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCES AND OUTCOMES

A pain management programme was set up in a large District General Hos pital to improve the management of the many patients with chronic non- malignant pain who do not respond to interventional medicine. Outcome measur es studied were depression, anxiety, disability, pain locus of control, illness behaviour and patient satisfaction with the programme . The first five of these measures showed statistically significant im provements whilst patient satisfaction with the programme was high at both assessments. In addition, there were marked decreases in the cons umption of analgesics and sedative drugs. We conclude that a multidisc iplinary pain management programme is a cost effective and constructiv e way of treating patients whose pain does not respond to intervention al management.