Der Schmerz
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A committee of health specialists examined the demand characteristics and efficiency of German health care services and published an expertise on the misallocation of services that among other subjects also covered the area of low back pain. Although we agree with their principal statements, we like to underscore that the objectives mentioned in the report cannot be achieved without the participation of psychologists. ⋯ Psychologists investigated these mechanisms, developed interventions for the prevention and treatment of low back pain on the basis of the results, and tested their efficacy in trials with a high methodological standard. Incorporation of psychological expertise does not only optimise prevention and treatment of low back pain and helps to prevent unnecessary suffering of the afflicted, in addition, it offers a contribution a cost containment.
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Practice Guideline Guideline
[Morphine and alternative opioids in cancer pain: the EAPC recommendations].
An expert working group of the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) has revised and updated its guidelines on the use of morphine in the management of cancer pain. The revised recommendations presented here give guidance on the use of morphine and the alternative strong opioid analgesics which have been introduced in many parts of the world in recent years. Practical strategies for dealing with difficult situations are described presenting a consensus view where supporting evidence is lacking. The strength of the evidence on which each recommendation is based is indicated.
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Practice Guideline Guideline
[Guidelines in pain treatment--methodical quality of guidelines for treatment of pain patients].
The committee for quality assurance of the German IASP chapter (DGSS) evaluated all relevant guidelines concerning pain treatment. Quality of guidelines was analysed according to the checklist "Methodical quality of guidelines" by Ollenschläger and the user manual released by the German Medical Centre for Quality Assurance. The guideline for the treatment of back pain released by the German Medical Association was examined as well as the one released by the German Association for physical therapy and rehabilitation, the guideline on cervical and lumbal nerve root compression syndrome of the German Association of Neurosurgeons, the guideline for cancer pain of the Drug Committee of the German Medical Association was compared with the one of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Pain Treatment. ⋯ The most prominent deficiency is the lack of implementation and application trials or impulses by all author associations. This way all expenditure on releasing guidelines is given away without improving quality of pain treatment. The authors' recommendation is to adjust to guidelines and, if they are working or not, tell the authors and improve interdisciplinary in pain treatment guidelines.