Development of evidence-based recommendations for procedure-specific pain management: PROSPECT methodology

Anaesthesia. 2019 Oct;74(10):1298-1304. doi: 10.1111/anae.14776. Epub 2019 Jul 11.

Abstract

Effective peri-operative pain management is a prerequisite for optimal recovery after surgery. Despite published evidence-based guidelines from several professional groups, postoperative pain management remains inadequate. The procedure-specific pain management (PROSPECT) collaboration consists of anaesthetists and surgeons with broad international representation that provide healthcare professionals with practical and evidence-based recommendations formulated in a way that facilitates clinical decision-making across all stages of the peri-operative period on a procedure-specific basis. The aim of this manuscript is to provide a detailed description of the current PROSPECT methodology with the intention of providing the rigour and transparency in which procedure-specific pain management recommendations are developed. The high methodological standards of the recommendations should improve the quality of clinical practice.

Keywords: evidence-based medicine; methodology; postoperative pain, analgesia; recommendations.

MeSH terms

  • Anesthesiologists
  • Clinical Decision-Making
  • Delphi Technique
  • Evidence-Based Medicine / methods*
  • Guidelines as Topic
  • Humans
  • Pain Management / methods*
  • Pain Measurement
  • Pain, Postoperative / therapy*
  • Perioperative Care / methods*
  • Surgeons