The Zero Acceptance of Pain (ZAP) Quality Improvement Project: evaluation of pain severity, pain interference, global quality of life, and pain-related costs.
The Zero Acceptance of Pain (ZAP) Quality Improvement Project was a multi-site effort to improve the lives of outpatients with cancer pain by enhancing the clinical practice of pain assessment and management. Independent samples of patients completed self-report measures of severity of pain, pain interference, global quality of life, pain treatment satisfaction, general medical treatment satisfaction, pain attitudes, and pain-related medical costs before and after the implementation of ZAP. Results suggested that ZAP decreased the severity of recent pain, decreased interference of pain on daily functioning, and improved satisfaction with pain treatment and attitudes about addiction to opioid medication. Direct medical costs consisting of pain-related hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and physician office visits were greatly reduced. In summary, the findings of this study support the idea that clinic-based efforts to improve the practice of pain management are effective in improving the lives of cancer patients who are experiencing pain.
Fortner
Barry V
BV
Psychology and Cancer Symptom Research, West Clinic, 100 N. Humphreys Boulevard, Memphis, TN 38117, USA.
Okon
Theodore A
TA
Ashley
Jeri
J
Kepler
Ginney
G
Chavez
Jana
J
Tauer
Kurt
K
Clements-Thompson
Michele
M
Schwartzberg
Lee
L
Demarco
Gail
G
Houts
Arthur C
AC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications* / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000191:economics*; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000191:economics*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index