Novel Pain Assessment and Intervention Network (NoPAIN)

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A new interdisciplinary network, the "Novel Pain Assessment and Intervention Network (NoPAIN)" will be established to explore a measurement-to-management system for geriatric pain with the long-term goal of generating a new discipline of Clinical Infometrics. Clinical Infometrics as we envision it is a synthesis of patient assessment data with computer technology, information theory, and measurement science to improve the connection between research findings / guidelines with clinical practices. We have chosen geriatric pain because it is a complex and multidimensional construct that has a critical mass of assessment instruments that need refining and has known gaps between recommended and actual practices. Because of demographic changes, geriatric pain management demands particular attention; its successes in improvement will also likely be applicable to other areas. This project has three specific aims: 1) To bring together experts in bio-informatics, clinical and nursing research, and the social sciences to discuss the issue of pain among older patients; 2) To design a new interdisciplinary method that will characterize how Clinical Infometrics can work. This prototype will be an integrated clinical decision support system in pain (CDSS-Pain); and 3) To produce grant proposals to test and implement CDSS-Pain. The broad long-term objectives of the NoPAIN Network are: 1) To develop reliable and valid measures using state-of-the-art measurement models; 2) To develop predictive models of treatment outcomes by using sophisticated statistical techniques on large databases; 3) To develop tailored approaches using medical informatics for the integration of clinical guidelines and patient-reported information to facilitate informed patient-physician decision making; and 4) To develop and refine biobehavioral techniques for improving patient adherence to pain management and clinical adherence to guidelines. Although the focus of this