Der Schmerz
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This study features an analysis of the analgesic therapy of patients with back pain focusing on opioid administration. Using claims data of a German statutory health insurance fund the analysis focuses on prescription patterns, the association between opioids and antiemetics as well as between opioid therapy and work disability. Based on typical diagnosis patterns three types of back pain could be identified: (other) specific back pain (46.0%), pain due to spinal disc diseases (23.5%) and non-specific back pain. ⋯ The chance of continuous opioid therapy was higher in pain patients with spinal disc diseases and patients with (other) specific back pain (OR 1.62 and 1.76, respectively; 95% CI 1.56-1.69 and 1.69-1.83, respectively). Continuous opioid therapy appears to increase the probability of a lower number of days off work due to disability (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.76; 95% CI 0.70-0.84). Adequate prospective studies should test if the associations found can be confirmed.
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Migraine is a frequent primary headache disorder in children and adolescents. Most of the young sufferers of migraine describe typical migraine symptoms but sometimes rare forms of migraine variants and unusual types of migraine occur in children and adolescents. These childhood periodic syndromes are common precursors of migraine. Phenotypes are alternating hemiplegia of childhood, benign paroxysmal torticollis, benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood, alternating hemiplegia in childhood, Alice in Wonderland syndrome, cyclic vomiting syndrome, acute confusional migraine and abdominal migraine.
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The variables pain intensity (SI), disability (DS) and quality of life (QoL) belong to a set of primary patient-based outcomes in chronic low back pain (CLBP). The avoidance-endurance model (AEM) assumes three maladaptive and one adaptive pain response pattern. The purpose of this study was to study the level and course of the outcomes with regard to the four AEM patterns. ⋯ The results show differences in the level and process of SI, DS and QoL between the subgroups. An AEM-based classification of subgroups is also reasonable for CLPB patients.
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Data on practice and quality of postoperative pain treatment by anaesthesiologists after ambulatory surgery are sparse. The current survey enrolled anaesthesiologists in private practice who were responsible for pain therapy after ambulatory surgery. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the implementation of the German S3 guidelines for acute and postoperative pain therapy in the outpatient setting. ⋯ Pain therapy after ambulatory surgery significantly varied with respect to the methods, drugs and measures of quality assurance used by anaesthesiologists in private praxis. This survey demonstrated that the national guidelines of acute pain therapy have only been partially implemented.
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The aim was to explore the expectations of general practitioners (GPs) towards specialized outpatient palliative care (SAPV) focused on older patients in the last phase of life. ⋯ The perception of patients in specialized palliative care with its current focus on cancer patients is different from the perception in general practice with its focus on geriatric and multimorbid patients. This may be a reason for the skepticism showed in this study whether SAPV will actually improve healthcare in the community. However, with respect to the concept and framework SAPV has the potential to fulfill GPs expectations and should be focused on counseling and collaborative services. The knowledge about physician and practice-related factors shaping GPs attitudes towards SAPV can be helpful to further implement SAPV into practice.