Routine screening for pain combined with a pain treatment protocol in head and neck cancer: a randomised controlled trial

There was no difference in the Pain Severity Index between the two groups. However there were significant improvements in the intervention group in patient satisfaction and PMI. The pain screening process itself was effective. Sufficient benefit was demonstrated as a result of the intervention to allow continued development of pain treatment pathways, rather than allowing pain treatment to be left to nonformalised ad hoc arrangements.