$1 million grant awarded to UTS Health for cancer pain research

UTS researchers are key members of a collaborative team that has been awarded a $1 million grant to test the cost-effectiveness of implementing a national clinical pathway for cancer pain.

The grant, awarded by the National Breast Cancer Foundation, will allow Professor Jane Phillips, Professor Trish Davidson, Dr Tim Luckett, Adjunct Professor David Currow and Professor Louise Ryan of UTS, led by physician Dr Melanie Lovell of The University of Sydney, to run a randomised control trial of the clinical pathway and associated implementation resources.

The assessment and treatment of pain has been found to be under-identified and under-management worldwide. Dr Tim Luckett explains that “previous research has shown that guidelines aren’t always put into practice. What’s needed are clear strategies for implementing evidence-based and person-centred care across different clinical settings”.  The team hopes to improve uptake of the pathway by means of patient resources for supporting self- management, an audit tool to ensure key standards are met and an online education program for health professionals.

The trial will represent the culmination of 4 years of collaborative work and will include a number of oncology and palliative care units nationally.

“Everyone experiences pain differently” says Dr Luckett, “So as well as improving care at the service level, a clinical pathway has to equip clinicians to respond to the differing needs and priorities of individual patients and families. We hope that this trial will inform improvements to care for cancer pain across Australia and beyond.”