Table 1.
Standard | Indicator type | Justification | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Type of clinic (IASP definition) | Structure | Evidence for multidisciplinary care | International Association for the Study of Pain guidance1 |
2 | Waiting times | Outcome | Key performance indicator nationally Evidence for waiting times impact on health |
18-week referral to treatment times (Baseline Audit) IASP waiting time standard2 (Follow-up) |
3 | Multidisciplinary staffing | Structure | Internationally recognised standard for pain services | IASP treatment facilities guidance1 |
4 | Availability of pain services per head of population | Structure | Key concern worldwide | Systematic review recommendations4 |
5 | Treatments available at pain services | Structure | Availability of evidence-based multidisciplinary care, back-up facilities and wider specialist support to the community | British Pain Society Map of Medicine treatment pathways19 |
6 | Attributes of pain treatment facilities | Structure | Multidisciplinary care check that personnel match the definition | Systematic review recommendations4 |
7 | 100% patients diagnoses assigned an ICD-10 code | Outcome | Diagnosis determines treatment pathway | NHS Information Standards |
8 | 100% of clinics had protocols in place to manage high risk areas of practice | Process | Standard requirement of NHS providers | National Patient Safety Agency26 |
9 | Education Programme | Structure | As a specialist service, should be providing best practice on managing pain to non-specialists | IASP treatment facilities guidance2 |
IASP: International Association for the Study of Pain; ICD-10: International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision; NHS: National Health Services.