Annali di igiene : medicina preventiva e di comunità
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The aim of the study is showing the results of the experience of "Hospital without pain" in the Lazio Region, in order to plan a specific regional project. This was a cross-sectional study conducted through the administration of a questionnaire during the month of October 2007, sent by the Social Department of the Regional Direction Health Planning to the General Directors of Local Health units, Hospital Trusts and Teaching Hospitals. 24 hospitals entered the study (response rate 80%). 37.5% of responders declare that pain level is routinely controlled by a trained health professional, mainly in smaller hospitals (50% vs. 20% in larger ones). In most hospitals (62.5%), pain monitoring is based on the use of the Visual analogue scale (VAS), whereas other scales are less frequently used (20.8%). ⋯ In the last case, these protocols are predominant in the roman (76.9%; p = 0.045), larger (80%; p = 0.069) and teaching hospitals (100%; p = 0.064). The management of pain in the Lazio Region shows a high heterogeneity, both in terms of geographical and dimensional issues. This study highlighted critical elements to be considered for the improvement of the situation at the regional level.