A follow‐up on Acute Pain Services in Germany compared to international survey data

Abstract

The availability of APS in Germany and other countries has increased over the last decade; however, the quality of nearly half of the APS is questionable. Against the disillusioning background of recently reported unfavourable pain-related patient outcomes, the structures, organization and quality of APS should be revisited.

Management of postoperative pain in Spain: a nationwide survey of practice

“…A similar situation was reported in 2008 for France, where 72.4% of hospitals had a postoperative pain quality monitoring programme but only 14.5% had assigned personnel . A concern is that this situation may mean that the quality of pain management has fallen for some patients . In a substantial minority (37.8%) of Spanish APS/APMP hospitals, respondents estimated that their services are managing only 70% of the surgical patients.…”

“…Nonetheless, even though APSs and APMPs have become more numerous in Spain, full‐time staff assignments have declined overall: the proportion of APSs with full‐time physicians fell from 48% in 1997–1998 to 28.6% in 2012 (nursing staff from 27.9% to 25%). A recent German audit revealed the same trend . A concern is that we found that no assignments at all had been made in 6.8% of the large Spanish hospitals that reported having an APS: it seems that some services have only been established administratively, given that they have been left unstaffed.…”

“…Over half of Spain's APS/APMP hospitals were analysing specific quality indicators in 2012 (vs. only about 15% of other hospitals). Such analysis serves to improve the treatment of postoperative pain in a particular hospital and provides data for benchmarking and new clinical guidelines …”

“…Others are indirect, the result of providing patients with appropriate information, training staff to evaluate pain systematically, and periodically evaluating the effectiveness of practice by analysing specific indicators . Recently, nationwide studies of improvements in postoperative pain control over time, particularly those achieved through APSs, have appeared . Most agree that APSs have increased in number, but some have called their organisation into question …”

“…Recently, nationwide studies of improvements in postoperative pain control over time, particularly those achieved through APSs, have appeared . Most agree that APSs have increased in number, but some have called their organisation into question …”