New models for primary care are needed for osteoarthritis

Negotiating Professional Tasks in a Hospital: A Qualitative Study of Rheumatologists and Occupational Therapists in the Management of Hand Osteoarthritis

Purpose

Societal change and rise in demand for healthcare call for new health professional practices and task redistribution. Through negotiated order theory, this study explores how hospital rheumatologists (RT) and occupational therapists (OT) negotiate professional tasks in the clinical management of hand osteoarthritis.

Methodology

Fourteen qualitative interviews and 16 observations in clinical consultations were conducted in two hospitals specialized in rheumatology in Norway. Participants included eight OTs, six RTs, and patients in consultations. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

Three themes were developed from codes: hierarchical ordering of hospital work impacts interprofessional negotiations; diagnostic organization of tasks preserves RT authority; and evidence-based recommendations in rheumatology enhance OT responsibilities. Overall, RTs and OTs enact tasks in succession where higher-ranking RTs establish a diagnosis and decide the subsequent in-hospital trajectory entrenched in a medical knowledge system. When medicine does not hold evidence-based treatment alternatives for patients, OTs respond by providing therapeutic interventions that are legitimized through international recommendations in rheumatology when they equip patients with tools to cope with chronic illness.

Conclusion

Negotiations over tasks do not take place from equal power positions when status and knowledge hierarchies frame professional practices. The enactment of tasks is concurrently highly influenced by the arena of the workplace, where the two professional groups both cross boundaries and work together in concert despite professional differences in order to meet patient interests and provide relevant healthcare.

Task shifting in the care for patients with hand osteoarthritis. Protocol for a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial

Background

Current health policy states that patients with osteoarthritis (OA) should mainly be managed in primary health care. Still, research shows that patients with hand OA have poor access to recommended treatment in primary care, and in Norway, they are increasingly referred to rheumatologist consultations in specialist care. In this randomized controlled non-inferiority trial, we will test if a new model, where patients referred to consultation in specialist health care receive their first consultation by an occupational therapy (OT) specialist, is as safe and effective as the traditional model, where they receive their first consultation by a rheumatologist. More specifically, we will answer the following questions:

What are the characteristics of patients with hand OA referred to specialist health care with regards to joint affection, disease activity, symptoms and function?

Is OT-led hand OA care as effective and safe as rheumatologist-led care with respect to treatment response, disease activity, symptoms, function and patient satisfaction?

Is OT-led hand OA care equal to, or more cost effective than rheumatologist-led care?

Which factors, regardless of hand OA care, predict improvement 6 and 12 months after baseline?

Methods

Participants will be patients with hand OA diagnosed by a general practitioner and referred for consultation at one of two Norwegian departments of rheumatology. Those who agree will attend a clinical assessment and report their symptoms and function in validated outcome measures, before they are randomly selected to receive their first consultation by an OT specialist (n = 200) or by a rheumatologist (n = 200). OTs may refer patients to a rheumatologist consultation and vice versa. The primary outcome will be the number of patients classified as OMERACT/OARSI-responders after six months. Secondary outcomes are pain, function and satisfaction with care over the twelve-month trial period. The analysis of the primary outcome will be done by logistic regression. A two-sided 95% confidence interval for the difference in response probability will be formed, and non-inferiority of OT-led care will be claimed if the upper endpoint of this interval does not exceed 15%.

Discussion

The findings will improve access to evidence-based management of people with hand OA.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03102788. Registered April 6th, 2017, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03102788?term=Kjeken&draw=2&rank=1

Date and version identifier:

December 17th, 2020. First version.

Estimating contextual effect in nonpharmacological therapies for pain in knee osteoarthritis: a systematic analytic review

OBJECTIVE

Conduct a systematic review and use meta-analytic techniques to estimate the proportion of total treatment effect that can be attributable to contextual effects (PCE) in adults receiving nonpharmacological, nonsurgical (NPNS) treatments for knee osteoarthritis (OA).

DESIGN

We reviewed the published literature to identify five frequently studied NPNS treatments for knee OA: exercise, acupuncture, ultrasound, laser, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). We searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of these treatments and abstracted pre- and post-intervention pain scores for groups receiving placebo and active treatments. For each study we calculated the PCE by dividing the change in pain in the placebo group by the change in pain in the active treatment group. We log transformed the PCE measure and pooled across studies using a random effects model.

RESULTS

We identified 25 studies for analysis and clustered the RCTs into two groups: acupuncture and topical energy modalities (TEM). 13 acupuncture studies included 1,653 subjects and 12 TEM studies included 572 subjects. The combined PCE was 0.61 (95% CI 0.46-0.80) for acupuncture and 0.69 (95% CI 0.54-0.88) for TEM.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that about 61% and 69% of the total treatment effect experienced by subjects receiving acupuncture and TEM treatments, respectively, for knee OA pain may be explained by contextual effects. Contextual effects may include the placebo effect, changes attributable to natural history, and effects of co-therapies. These data highlight the important role of contextual effects in the response to NPNS OA treatments.

Can the Pain Attitudes and Beliefs Scales be adapted for use in the context of osteoarthritis with general practitioners and physiotherapists?

BACKGROUND

Conservative, first-line treatments (exercise, education and weight-loss if appropriate) for hip and knee joint osteoarthritis are underused despite the known benefits. Clinicians' beliefs can affect the advice and education given to patients, in turn, this can influence the uptake of treatment. In New Zealand, most conservative OA management is prescribed by general practitioners (GPs; primary care physicians) and physiotherapists. Few questionnaires have been designed to measure GPs' and physiotherapists' osteoarthritis-related health, illness and treatment beliefs. This study aimed to identify if a questionnaire about low back pain beliefs, the Pain Attitudes and Beliefs Scale for Physiotherapists (PABS-PT), can be adapted to assess GP and physiotherapists' beliefs about osteoarthritis.

METHODS

This study used a cross-sectional observational design. Data were collected anonymously from GPs and physiotherapists using an online survey. The survey included a study-specific demographic and occupational characteristics questionnaire and the PABS-PT questionnaire adapted for osteoarthritis. All data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and the PABS-PT data underwent principal factor analysis.

RESULTS

In total, 295 clinicians (87 GPs, 208 physiotherapists) participated in this study. The principal factor analysis identified two factors or subscales (categorised as biomedical and behavioural), with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.84 and 0.44, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The biomedical subscale of the PABS-PT appears appropriate for adaptation for use in the context of osteoarthritis, but the low internal consistency of the behavioural subscale suggests this subscale is not currently suitable. Future research should consider the inclusion of additional items to the behavioural subscale to improve internal consistency or look to develop a new, osteoarthritis-specific questionnaire.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial was part of the primary author's PhD, which began in 2012 and therefore this study was not registered.

Does occupational therapy delay or reduce the proportion of patients that receives thumb carpometacarpal joint surgery? A multicentre randomised controlled trial

Objectives

To evaluate whether occupational therapy, provided in the period between referral and surgical consultation, might delay or reduce the need of surgery in thumb carpometacarpal joint (CMCJ) osteoarthritis and to explore predictors for CMCJ surgery.

Methods

This multicentre randomised controlled trial included patients referred for surgical consultation due to CMCJ osteoarthritis. An occupational therapy group received hand osteoarthritis education, assistive devices, CMCJ orthoses and exercises. A control group received only hand osteoarthritis information. Primary outcome was the proportion of patients that had received CMCJ surgery after 2 years. We examined the primary outcome and predictors for surgery with regression models, and time to surgery with the log-rank test and cox regression analyses.

Results

Of 221 patients screened for eligibility, 180 were randomised. Information on the primary outcome was collected from medical records for all included patients. Surgery was performed on 22 patients (24%) that had received occupational therapy and 29 (32%) control patients (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.26 to 1.21; p=0.14). Median time to surgery was 350 days (IQR 210-540) in the occupational therapy group and 296 days (IQR 188-428) in the control group (p=0.13). Previous non-pharmacological treatment (OR 2.72, 95% CI 1.14 to 6.50) and higher motivation for surgery (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.43) were significant predictors for CMCJ surgery.

Conclusions

Occupational therapy showed a small non-significant tendency to delay and reduce the need for surgery in CMCJ osteoarthritis. Previous non-pharmacological treatment and higher motivation for surgery were significant predictors for surgery.

Non-pharmacological treatment gap preceding surgical consultation in thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis - a cross-sectional study

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) in the thumb carpometacarpal joint (CMCJ) is a prevalent disease which may lead to structural damage, severe pain and functional limitations. Evidence-based treatment recommendations state that all patients with hand OA should be offered non-pharmacological treatment. Surgery should be considered only when other treatment has proven insufficient in relieving pain. The purpose of this study was to investigate prior treatment and characteristics of patients referred to specialist health care surgical consultation due to CMCJ OA. The study includes exploring differences in pain and function between referred and non-referred hand, between men and women, and between patients with and without OA affection of other finger joints than CMCJ.

Methods

Patients in this cross-sectional study reported prior non-pharmacological treatment for CMCJ OA. Patient demographics, disease and functional variables were assessed based on hand radiographs, patient-reported and observer-based outcome measures. Differences in pain and function between referred and non-referred hand, men and women, and between patients with and without additional affection of finger joints other than CMCJ, were analysed using Paired-samples T-tests, Wilcoxon Signed Rank, or Chi-Square tests.

Results

One hundred and eighty patients were included. The mean age was 63 years and 79% were women. Only 21% reported having received non-pharmacological treatment before referral to surgical consultation. The results show a statistically significant worse function for referred hands, women and involvement of additional interphalangeal joints. Most patients reported no pain or mild pain in their referred hand.

Conclusions

The results of this study show a non-pharmacological treatment gap in OA care. Most patients report no pain or mild pain, and that they had not received non-pharmacological treatment prior to being referred to CMCJ OA surgical consultation. The results furthermore show that CMCJ OA negatively affects all aspects of function. Strategies need to be developed to improve OA care, including educating general practitioners in evidence-based treatment recommendations and in the assessment of hand pain, and encourage the routine referral of patients with symptomatic hand OA to occupational therapy before considering surgery.

Does occupational therapy reduce the need for surgery in carpometacarpal osteoarthritis? Protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

In the absence of disease-modifying interventions for hand osteoarthritis (OA), occupational therapy (OT) comprising patient education, hand exercises, assistive devices and orthoses are considered as core treatments, whereas surgery are recommended for those with severe carpometacarpal (CMC1) OA. However, even though CMC1 surgery may reduce pain and improve function, the risk of adverse effects is high, and randomized controlled trials comparing surgery with non-surgical interventions are warranted. This multicentre randomized controlled trial aims to address the following questions: Does OT in the period before surgical consultation reduce the need for surgery in CMC1-OA? What are patients' motivation and reasons for wanting CMC1-surgery? Are there differences between departments of rheumatology concerning the degree of CMC1-OA, pain and functional limitations in patients who are referred for surgical consultation for CMC1 surgery? Is the Measure of Activity Performance of the Hand a reliable measure in patients with CMC1-OA? Do patients with CMC1-OA with and without affection of the distal and proximal interphalangeal finger joints differ with regard to symptoms and function? Do the degree of CMC1-OA, symptoms and functional limitations significantly predict improvement after 2 years following OT or CMC1-surgery? Is OT more cost-effective than surgery in the management of CMC1-OA?

METHODS/DESIGN

All persons referred for surgical consultation due to their CMC1-OA at one of three Norwegian departments of rheumatology are invited to participate. Those who agree attend a clinical assessment and report their symptoms, function and motivation for surgery in validated outcome measures, before they are randomly selected to receive OT in the period before surgical consultation (estimated n = 180). The primary outcome will be the number of participants in each group who have received surgical treatment after 2 years. Secondary and tertiary outcomes are pain, function and satisfaction with care over the 2-year trial period. Outcomes will be collected at baseline, 4, 18 and 24 months. The main analysis will be on an intention-to-treat basis, using logistic regression, comparing the number of participants in each group who have received surgical treatment after 2 years.

DISCUSSION

The findings will improve the evidence-based management of HOA.

TRIAL REGISTRATION IDENTIFIER

NCT01794754 . First registrated February 15^th 2013.

Effectiveness of an Integrated Multidisciplinary Osteoarthritis Outpatient Program versus Outpatient Clinic as Usual: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the leading causes of pain and disability. Given the constraint in the provision of care, there is a need to develop and assess effectiveness of new treatment models. The objective was to compare satisfaction with and effectiveness of a new integrated multidisciplinary outpatient program with usual care in an outpatient clinic for patients with OA.

Methods.

Patients with clinical OA referred to a rheumatology outpatient clinic were randomized to a 3.5-h multidisciplinary group-based educational program followed by individual consultations, or to usual care. The primary outcome was satisfaction with the health service evaluated on a numerical rating scale (0 = extremely unsatisfied, 10 = extremely satisfied) after 4 months. Secondary outcomes included health-related quality of life measures.

Results.

Of 391 patients, 86.4% (n = 338) were women, and mean age was 61.2 (SD 8.0) years. At 4 months, patients who received integrated multidisciplinary care were significantly more satisfied with the health service compared with controls, with a mean difference of −1.05 (95% CI −1.68 to −0.43, p < 0.001). Among secondary outcomes, only self-efficacy with other symptoms scale (10–100) improved significantly in the multidisciplinary group compared with controls at 4 months (3.59, 95% CI 0.69–6.5, p = 0.02). At 12 months, the Australian/Canadian Hand Osteoarthritis Index pain (0–10) and fatigue scores (0–10) were slightly worse in the multidisciplinary group with differences of 0.38 (95% CI 0.06–0.71, p = 0.02) and 0.55 (95% CI 0.02–1.07, p = 0.04), respectively.

Conclusion.

Patients receiving an integrated multidisciplinary care model were more satisfied with healthcare than those receiving usual care, whereas there were no clinically relevant improvements in health outcomes.

Comparison of patient experiences of the osteoarthritis consultation with GP attitudes and beliefs to OA: a narrative review

BACKGROUND

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common cause of disability and consultation with a GP. However, little is known about what currently happens when patients with OA consult their GP. This review aims to compare existing literature reporting patient experiences of consultations in which OA is discussed with GP attitudes and beliefs regarding OA, in order to identify any consultation events that may be targeted for intervention.

METHODS

After a systematic literature search, a narrative review has been conducted of literature detailing patient experiences of consulting with OA in primary care and GP attitudes to, and beliefs about, OA. Emergent themes were identified from the extracted findings and GP and patient perspectives compared within each theme.

RESULTS

Twenty two relevant papers were identified. Four themes emerged: diagnosis; explanations; management of the condition; and the doctor-patient relationship. Delay in diagnosis is frequently reported as well as avoidance of the term osteoarthritis in favour of 'wear and tear'. Both patients and doctors report negative talk in the consultation, including that OA is to be expected, has an inevitable decline and there is little that can be done about it. Pain management appears to be a priority for patients, although a number of barriers to effective management have been identified. Communication within the doctor patient consultation also appears key, with patients reporting a lack of feeling their symptoms were legitimised.

CONCLUSIONS

The nature of negative talk and discussions around management within the consultation have emerged as areas for future research. The findings are limited by generic limitations of interview research; to further understanding of the OA consultation alternative methodology such as direct observation may be necessary.

Developing a model osteoarthritis consultation: a Delphi consensus exercise

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common condition managed in general practice, but often not in line with published guidance. The ideal consultation for a patient presenting with possible OA is not known. The aim of the study was to develop the content of a model OA consultation for the assessment and treatment of older adults presenting in general practice with peripheral joint problems.

Methods

A postal Delphi consensus exercise was undertaken with two expert groups: i) general practitioners (GPs) with expertise in OA management and ii) patients with experience of living with OA. An advisory group generated 61 possible consultation tasks for consideration in the consensus exercise. Expert groups were asked to consider which tasks should be included in the model OA consultation. The exercise was completed by 15 GPs and 14 patients. The level of agreement for inclusion in the model was set at 90%.

Results

The model OA consultation included 25 tasks to be undertaken during the initial consultation between a GP and a patient presenting with peripheral joint pain. The 25 tasks provide detailed advice on how the following elements of the consultation should be addressed: i) assessment of chronic joint pain, ii) patient’s ideas and concerns, iii) exclusion of red flags, iv) examination, v) provision of the diagnosis and written information, vi) promotion of exercise and weight loss, vii) initial pain management and viii) arranging a follow-up appointment. Both groups prioritised a bio-medical approach to the consultation, rather than a bio-psycho-social one, suggesting a discordance between current thinking and research evidence.

Conclusions

This study has enabled the priorities of GPs and patients to be identified for a model OA consultation. The results of this consensus study will inform the development of best practice for the management of OA in primary care and the implementation of evidence-based guidelines for OA in primary care.

Self-management strategies to support performance of daily activities in hand osteoarthritis

AIMS

The main aim of this study was to explore self-management strategies in persons with hand osteoarthritis (HOA).

METHODS

Self-management strategies were explored in semi-structured interviews, in which 125 participants described strategies, use of devices or equipment, and advice they would give to people with HOA concerning how to manage their daily life.

RESULTS

The participants made a total of 483 statements, which were classified into 27 discrete strategies, and thereafter grouped into 13 broader strategies within three categories: general behavioural strategies, HOA-specific behavioural strategies, and cognitive strategies. The broad strategy "activity accommodations" specifically addressed performance of daily activities in people with HOA, comprising "use assistive devices", "adapt tools, materials or working techniques", "practise activity pacing" and "stop or avoid certain activities", of which the two first were the most frequently stated by participants.

CONCLUSIONS

People with HOA use a wide variety of self-management strategies to support performance of daily activities, in which use of assistive devices and activity adaptation are the most frequently reported strategies. Patient-recommended self-management strategies should be included in written information material and patient education programmes, which should be developed in cooperation with patient representatives and made available for patients soon after they are diagnosed.

Clinical effectiveness of knee rehabilitation techniques and implications for a self-care treatment model

BACKGROUND

Physiotherapy is a complex intervention frequently recommended for knee conditions. The International Classification of Functioning and Disability (ICF) can be used as a framework to evaluate evidence to develop care models and clinical guidelines.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of knee rehabilitation modalities categorised according to the ICF domains.

DATA SOURCES

A keyword search of Medline, Cinahl, Amed, Embase and Cochrane databases from 1996 to 2010 using terms related to the knee joint and physiotherapeutic interventions.

STUDY SELECTION

Reviewer assessment using inclusion/exclusion criteria and a quality assessment tool compiled from the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Tool, Consort and Cochrane Bone Joint and Muscle Trauma Groups.

DATA EXTRACTION

Information about the research design, intervention and subjects was extracted. Outcome measures and findings were categorised according to ICF domains.

DATA SYNTHESIS

The majority of studies evaluated exercise. Findings were supportive but specific recommendations were limited due to variations in content and application. There was limited quality research to support the theory that manual therapy, electrotherapy or taping in isolation contributes to recovery. Multimodality physiotherapy programmes were found to be beneficial and to reflect clinical practice, but the effectiveness of each component is unknown. Outcome measures from the participation domain of the ICF were used least frequently and were not generally true measures of participation.

CONCLUSION

Development of participation outcome measures is required to evaluate the long-term benefits of interventions. Rehabilitation should be based around delivery of effective exercise programmes incorporating participation outcomes to provide feedback and complement self-care for knee conditions.

New perspectives on the theory of justice: implications for physical therapy ethics and clinical practice

Recent revisions of physical therapy codes of ethics have included a new emphasis concerning health inequities and social injustice. This emphasis reflects the growing evidence regarding the importance of social determinants of health, epidemiological trends for health service delivery, and the enhanced participation of physical therapists in shaping health care reform in a number of international contexts. This perspective article suggests that there is a "disconnect" between the societal obligations and aspirations expressed in the revised codes and the individualist ethical frameworks that predominantly underpin them. Primary health care is an approach to health care arising from an understanding of the nexus between health and social disadvantage that considers the health needs of patients as expressive of the health needs of the communities of which they are members. It is proposed that re-thinking ethical frameworks expressed in codes of ethics can both inform and underpin practical strategies for working in primary health care. This perspective article provides a new focus on the ethical principle of justice: the ethical principle that arguably remains the least consensually understood and developed in the ethics literature of physical therapy. A relatively recent theory of justice known as the "capability approach to justice" is discussed, along with its potential to assist physical therapy practitioners to further develop moral agency in order to address situations of health inequity and social injustice in clinical practice.

Moral agency as enacted justice: a clinical and ethical decision-making framework for responding to health inequities and social injustice

This is the second of 2 companion articles in this issue. The first article explored the clinical and ethical implications of new emphases in physical therapy codes of conduct reflecting the growing evidence regarding the importance of social determinants of health, epidemiological trends for health service delivery, and the enhanced participation of physical therapists in shaping health care reform in a number of international contexts. The first article was theoretically oriented and proposed that a re-thinking of ethical frameworks expressed in codes of ethics could both inform and underpin practical strategies for working in primary health care. A review of the ethical principle of "justice," which, arguably, remains the least consensually understood and developed principle in the ethics literature of physical therapy, was provided, and a more recent perspective-the capability approach to justice-was discussed. The current article proposes a clinical and ethical decision-making framework, the ethical reasoning bridge (ER bridge), which can be used to assist physical therapy practitioners to: (1) understand and implement the capability approach to justice at a clinical level; (2) reflect on and evaluate both the fairness and influence of beliefs, perspectives, and context affecting health and disability through a process of "wide reflective equilibrium" and assist patients to do this as well; and (3) nurture the development of moral agency, in partnership with patients, through a transformative learning process manifest in a mutual "crossing" and "re-crossing" of the ER bridge. It is proposed that the development and exercise of moral agency represent an enacted justice that is the result of a shared reasoning and learning experience on the part of both therapists and patients.

Safety issues in the development of treatments for osteoarthritis: recommendations of the Safety Considerations Working Group

OBJECTIVE

The symptomatic treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) remains to be improved, as many patients do not respond well to current palliative therapies and/or suffer unacceptable adverse events. Given the unmet need for innovative, effective and well-tolerated therapies, it is important to develop the means to estimate the ongoing safety profile of novel therapeutic agents over short- and longer term use.

DESIGN

Methods are presented to estimate the number of serious adverse events (SAEs) of interest considered as "acceptable" per 1000 patient-years exposure and to estimate the numbers of patient-years needed in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to meet objectives. As exposure is increased, more evidence is accrued that the overall risk is within study limits. It is equally important that requirements for delineating the safety of promising new therapies not create barriers that would preclude their development. Therefore, ongoing surveillance of occurrence of SAEs of interest during clinical development is proposed, for example after every incremental 500 patient-years exposure are accrued.

RESULTS

This paper and others in this special issue focus on identification of safety signals for symptomatic treatments of OA. Much less information is available for agents aimed at slowing/preventing structural progression but it is expected that a higher risk profile might be considered acceptable in the context of more promising benefit.

CONCLUSION

This paper provides a proposal and supporting data for a comprehensive approach for assessing ongoing safety during clinical development of both palliative and disease-modifying therapies for OA.

Make a CHANGE: optimising communication and pain management decisions

The major objectives of the CHANGE PAIN International Advisory Board are to enhance understanding of chronic pain and to develop strategies for improving pain management. At its second meeting, in November 2009, evidence was presented that around one person in five in Europe and the USA experiences chronic pain, and the delay before referral to a pain specialist is often several years. Moreover, physicians' pharmacological approach to chronic pain is inconsistent, as evidenced by the huge variation in treatment between different European countries. It was agreed that efficient communication between physician and patient is essential for effective pain management, and that efficacy/side-effect balance is a key factor in choosing an analgesic agent. The multifactorial nature of chronic pain produces various physical and psychological symptoms, so the management of chronic pain should be tailored to the individual. Pharmacological therapy must be matched to the causative mechanisms responsible, or it is likely to prove ineffective and risk the development of a 'vicious circle'; doses are increased because of inadequate pain relief, but this increases side-effects so doses are reduced, pain relief is then inadequate, so doses are increased, and so on. Pain management decisions should not therefore be based solely on the severity of pain. Based on the concept of individual treatment targets (ITT), the CHANGE PAIN Scale was adopted - a simple, user-friendly assessment tool to improve communication between physician and patient. The 11-point NRS enables the patient to rate the current pain intensity and to set a realistic individual target level. On the reverse are six key parameters affecting the patient's quality of life; clinicians simply need to agree with patients whether improvement is needed in each one. Regular use can establish the efficacy and tolerability of pain management, and the rate of progress towards individual treatment targets.