Pain management program follow-ups. A national survey of current practice in the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom (UK), the number of multidisciplinary pain management programs (PMP) has sharply increased in the last decade. Treatment aims to effect long-term changes, yet arrangements for evaluating long-term treatm ent outcome in routine practice remain unknown. All PMPs identified in the UK were invited to provide information by mailed questionnaire on aspects o f follow-up evaluation. Sixty-six of 70 PMPs identified were successfully c ontacted (94% response rate). Ten of 48 PMPs (21%) provided complete data a nd met suggested criteria for adequate length and rates of follow-up, and o utcome measurement. Levels of staffing and content explained only a proport ion of the variability seen. A general commitment to follow-up outcome eval uation by PMPs was identified but there was substantial variability among p rograms in length of follow-up, attendance rates, and outcome measurement. These findings raise issues about the consistency of follow-up evaluation a cross the UK and the ability of current arrangements in some PMPs to accura tely determine the longer-term outcome of chronic pain patients. Incorporat ing follow-ups into existing desirable criteria and agreeing on core outcom e measures are two options available to service providers. J Pain Symptom M anage 2001;21: 218-226. (C) U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee, 2001.