To determine if the institutionalisation of a regular systematic approach to the assessment of pain in inpatient cancer units using the Edinburgh Pain Assessment Tool (EPAT©) leads to better control of pain than that achieved by usual care.

Background and relevance to cancer - Pain associated with cancer has a severe negative impact on quality of life and can also limit a patient's ability to tolerate potentially life-saving tumoricidal treatment. Unfortunately in practice only half of cancer patients receive adequate pain control. A fundamental reason for this is inadequate assessment of pain. The institutionalisation of pain assessment as a 5th vital sign on the bedside chart combined with training and guidance in pain management (EPAT) is a potentially effective solution.

We have already evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of EPAT in a randomised trial of 150 oncology inpatients and found that by Day 4 after admission 90% reported adequate pain control compared to only 52% of those who received usual care.

Aims - We now want to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of EPAT in practice and ask: Does it reduce cancer pain more that usual care? Are there adverse effects? Is it cost effective?

Outline plan - A UK-wide cluster randomised controlled trial of 18 inpatient cancer centres of which half will use the EPAT package and half usual care. The trial outcomes are clinically significant improvement, adverse effects such as opiate toxicity and cost effectiveness.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Able and consent to complete a Brief Pain Inventory score
• Aged over 18 years
• Have a pain score equal to or greater than 4 out of 10 at first assessment point (within 24 hours of admission) and pain is cancer related
• Are expected to be available for pain assessment at 3 days after admission

Exclusion Criteria:

• Do not consent to take part in the study or who are too ill to take part, including those with severe mental health problems
• Do not have cancer-related pain
• Are under 18 years of age
• Have a pain score of less than 4
• Are not expected to be available for pain assessment at 3 days after admission