Stop Pain Project: a collaborative, interdisciplinary project to improve the person-centredness of assessment and management of cancer pain. — ASN Events
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Stop Pain Project: a collaborative, interdisciplinary project to improve the person-centredness of assessment and management of cancer pain. (#545)

Josephine Clayton 1 2 , Patricia M Davidson 3 , Jane Phillips 4 5 , Tim Luckett 3 6 7 , Anna Green 3 , Meera Agar 7 8 9 , Andrew Broadbent 1 , Melanie Lovell 1 2 , On behalf of The STOP Pain Project Team ImPaCCT and HammondCare
  1. Greenwich Hospital Palliative and Supportive Care Service, Greenwich , NSW , Australia
  2. University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  3. Centre for Cardiovascular and Chronic Care, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Sydney, NSW, Australia
  4. School of Nursing, University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  5. Sacred Heart Palliative Care Service, St Vincents Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  6. Improving Palliative Care through Clinical Trials (ImPaCCT), Sydney, NSW, Australia
  7. South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, Australia
  8. Ingham Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  9. Braeside Hospital, HammondCare, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Background: Cancer pain is a common, burdensome problem that is underdiagnosed and inadequately managed. Patient, provider and health system variables can either help or hinder effective pain assessment and management. Understanding these factors at a local level is critical to reduce barriers and drive improvements in clinical outcomes.


Aim: To develop methods for assessing barriers and facilitators to assessment and management of cancer pain at patient, provider and service levels.

Method: A sequential mixed method design is being undertaken at a single clinical service using a case study method. Environmental scanning and clinical process / patient journey mapping are being carried out by a collaborative involving researchers and local multidisciplinary clinical staff.
Findings: The team has developed strategies for increasing the quality and efficiency of care for people with cancer pain. Communication with patients and coordination between different disciplines and settings have been particular foci.

Conclusions: Improving cancer pain management requires an in-depth understanding of policies, systems and procedures at a local level. Clinical process mapping in particular enables a 'patient-eye' view of services that can be used to enhance the person-centredness of care.