Procedural Pain in Palliative Care: Prevalence, Intensity and Treatment

Procedural Pain in Palliative Care: Prevalence, Intensity and Treatment. A Prospective, Cross-sectional, Multicenter, National Study

This study aims to assess self reported procedural pain compared with background pain and evaluate pain intensity differences across six standard procedures. Besides, rescue and preventive treatments used to control procedural pain will be examined.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients receiving the procedures included in this study as a part of their standard care
• Patients that have expressed their consent to participate to the study by signing the informed consent document

Exclusion Criteria:

• Very serious or unstable clinical conditions with a Karnofsky Performance Status Index (KPS) < 20
• Presence of neurological or psychiatric conditions, due to the original disease or concomitant diseases, interfering with the patient's level of consciousness or with judgment, such as to compromise compliance with the study protocol;
• Not adequately controlled background pain (average NRS in the last 24 hours is > 4)
• Emergency procedures or procedures performed during night time (from 8 p.m. until 8 a.m)