Value in health : the journal of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research
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Neuropathic pain (NP) is a consequence of many chronic conditions. This study aimed to develop an unidimensional NP scale with scores that represent levels of NP and distinguish between individuals with NP and non-NP conditions. ⋯ The five-item Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS PQ-Neuro) Neuropathic Pain Quality Scale is a short and practical measure that can be used to identify patients more likely to have NP and to distinguish levels of NP. The data collected will support future research that targets other unidimensional pain quality domains (e.g., nociceptive pain).
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The term "breakthrough cancer pain" (BTcP) was introduced about 25 years ago. Peaks of pain intensity reported in patients with cancer had been invariably examined in the past years, providing relevant information for a better knowledge of this phenomenon and its treatment. ⋯ These are as follows: 1) assessment of background analgesia, 2) drugs used for background analgesia, 3) BTcP is a frequent phenomenon, 4) characteristics of BTcP, 5) diagnosis of BTcP, 6) continuous assessment, 7) tailored pharmacological treatment of BTcP, 8) selection of BTcP medication, 9) dosing BTcP medications, and 10) education. These steps may help clinicians to recognize and treat BTcP adequately.
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The Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) has been the subject of controversy since its inception, with critics arguing that it creates a "backdoor" to the National Health Service (NHS), circumventing the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and its health technology assessment program. Nonetheless, with its creation comes a new decision problem, how to best allocate resources among cancer drugs. ⋯ Adopting the proposed framework for CDF prioritization would result in disinvestment from a number of highly cost-ineffective drugs applicable for CDF reimbursement. The present lack of a formal economic evaluation not only results in net health losses but also compromises a founding principle of the NHS, that of "equal access for equal need."