Pain therapy for patients with tumor diseases. Quality assurance

Medical care for patients with cancer is in worldwide discussion about the therapeutic goals. Additionally to cancer therapy, pain therapy and symptom control is getting more and more attention. The definition of structural quality aspects, process quality and resulting quality provides a valuable tool for analyzing status and goals in cancer pain therapy. In this paper, we present a computerized documentation program which leads through pain analysis to initiation, evaluation and control of therapeutic results following WHO-guidelines. Information is offered during the documentation procedure. The program fills therapeutical (documentation) gaps during everyday practice concerning pain and symptom control in cancer patients. The program presents a kind of "on demand" continuing education.