Routine screening for pain combined with a pain treatment protocol in head and neck cancer: a randomised controlled trial

Williams JE, Peacock J, Gubbay AN, et al. Routine screening for pain combined with a pain treatment protocol in head and neck cancer: a randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Anaesthesia. 2015;115(4):621-628.Background: We compared the effectiveness and cost of a pain screening and treatment program, with usual care in head and neck cancer patients with significant pain. Methods: Patients were screened for the presence of pain and then randomly assigned to either an intervention group, consisting of a pain treatment protocol and an education program, or to usual care. Primary outcome was change in the Pain Severity Index (PSI) over three months. Results: We screened 1074 patients of whom 156 were randomized to either intervention or usual care. Mean PSI was reduced over three months in both groups, with no significant difference between the two groups. The Pain Management Index (PMI) at three months, was significantly improved in the intervention group compared with usual care (P