PainDoc: Understanding Chronic Pain

Context

Chronic pain is a significant issue with major repercussions for those dealing with the syndrome. Pain is considered chronic when it lasts for more than three to six months, or for longer than the usual recovery period. According to a study published in 2006 (Europ J of Pain, Breivik et al.), chronic pain syndrome affects 16% of the population over 18 years of age in Switzerland. Treatment of affected individuals is often complex and requires multimodal pharmaceutical and psychosocial treatment combinations. Documenting pain is an important part of patient care.

Project

The project’s objective is to create a system for continuously documenting pain and certain associated factors, detecting the common link between different types of chronic pain, and integrating factors that influence chronic pain (environmental, psychosocial, etc.).

It will also provide a robust generic solution, a packet tunnel between mobile apps for home use and the HUG’s clinical informatics division.

project manager

Mr. Frédéric Ehrler, Computer Analyst, Medical Information Sciences Division, Imaging and Medical Information Sciences Department, Geneva University Hospitals

Professor Christian Lovis, Head Physician of the Division, Medical Information Sciences Division, Imaging and Medical Information Sciences Department, Geneva University Hospitals

Professor Anne-Françoise Allaz, Head Physician of the Division, Beau-Séjour Rehabilitation and Internal Medicine Division, Department of General Internal Medicine, Rehabilitation, and Geriatrics, Geneva University Hospitals