A bi-national approach to outcome measurement: a common dataset
Dr Carolyn Arnold
Director, Caulfield Pain Management and Research Centre, Melbourne, Vic
Dr Chris Hayes
Director, Hunter Integrated Pain Service, Newcastle, NSW
Following a series of recent meetings a consensus “minimum dataset” now has the support
of the Faculty of Pain Medicine, Australian Pain Society and New Zealand Pain Society. The
proposed dataset is shown below. There is the possibility of slight further modification
depending upon resources available to support the project.
Domain
Minimal measure
1. Pain Intensity
Numerical rating scales from Brief Pain Inventory (BPI)
2. Physical Disability
Pain interference scales (BPI)
? Roland Morris disability questionnaire
3. Cognitive
Pain Self Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ)
Pain Catastrophising Scale (PCS)
4. Mood
Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS 21)
5. Healthcare
utilisation
Utilisation over 3 months (GP, specialist, other health
professional, emergency department, inpatient days)
6. Medication
Daily oral morphine equivalent
Number of “analgesic” groups (x / 7)
7. Demographics
Postcode, NESB, indigenous, age, gender, site(s), duration,
work status, body mass index, multiple morbidities, sight and
hearing impairments, literacy
8. Service activity
profile
Referral rate, clinical sessions, telehealth, waiting times
(referral to pre-assessment group or individual clinic
assessment), ratio new :review appointments
9. Treatments
Individual, group, inpatient – disciplines, procedures, contact
hours
Data will be collected at baseline (referral), at initial clinic assessment, then at 3 and 6
months post assessment. A “snap shot” capability will allow more detailed analysis for a time
limited period eg. a focus on the impact of co-morbidities for 12 months.
Examples of existing benchmarking systems with relevance to pain medicine include the
Palliative Care Outcome Centre (PCOC) and Australian Rehabilitation Outcome Centre
(AROC).
Ongoing work aims to develop the business case for a Chronic Pain Outcome Initiative in
Australia and New Zealand and lobby for appropriate ongoing funding.