Edinburgh Pain Assessment and management Tool (EPAT)
A simple bedside tool developed for safe and accurate cancer pain assessment and management.
Pain assessment needs to underpin and be linked to appropriate management. Management needs to be reassessed in light of impact on pain relief and associated adverse effects. Human factors are the greatest barriers to effective pain assessment and management and this is demonstrated clearly within the US “Opioid crisis”, where simple pain scales without reassessment were linked to reimbursement.
The Edinburgh Pain Assessment and management Tool (EPAT) is a simple bedside tool initially developed for safe and accurate cancer pain assessment and management. It has linked algorithms and a path to reassessment. In a large multicentre cluster randomised trail when compared to standard care, it improves pain relief with no increase in adverse effects, improves prescribing, individualises management, shortens hospital stay and results in a cost saving.
Results of the EPAT trial published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology:
Pain Management in Cancer Center Inpatients: A Cluster Randomized Trial to Evaluate a Systematic Integrated Approach—The Edinburgh Pain Assessment and Management Tool [J Clin Oncol. 2018 May 1; 36(13): 1284–1290.]
Download the Edinburgh Pain Assessment and management Tool (EPAT):
Download commentary from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE):