MIDOS - an electronic database for the palliative care unit

Introduction. A minimal documentation system (MIDOS) has been developed for self-assessment of pain and other symptoms by the patients on palliative c are units. To decrease the administrative burden and thereby increase the a cceptance of the system an electronic database was developed to facilitate data entry and documentation. System. The database is based on Microsoft Ac cess. Screen masks are used for navigation and data entry. According to the type of data items may be choosen in checklists or pull-down menues or ent ered as free text. The main menue documents personal data from the patient. Submenues can be reached from the main screen mask. Submenues included are the core documentation of the working group of the German Ministry of Heal th,the German versions of the Brief Pain Inventory, the quality of life que stionnaire SE-12 and the Mini Mental State Examination for assessment of co gnitive impairment. Data from these instruments may be assessed repeatedly for the same patient. Documentation of follow-up consultations include self -assessment of pain and other symptoms by the patient (MIDOS) and the analg esic regimen. These informations should be documented for each consultation . Conclusion. This data base was used in two trials on the palliative care un it of the university of Cologne, confirming data safety and convenience of the programme. We recommend the use of this data base in combination with M IDOS and the core documentation for routine assessment on the palliative ca re ward.