MQS Calculator for pain medication
Problem
Medication use is an important consideration in chronic-pain rehabilitation programmes. However, it is difficult to quantify this aspect of chronic-pain treatment, because patients often take multiple medications differing in pharmacological class and dosage level.
The Medication Quantification Scale (MQS) provides a method for quantifying medication use in patients with chronic, non-malignant pain. It was developed for clincal and reasearch purposes.
Its calculation in clinical practice causes many problems.
Solution
Grünenthal´s Healthcare Management Department offers a webbased solution to calculate the MQS online. This tool has been developed to support the Belgium Reference Centers in the treatment of pain patients and to prepare a validation project.
This tool will also be integrated in the P.A.I.N. Quality Software. Meanwhile it can be tested online.
If you are interested in using the tool please contact the Healthcare Management Team.
Literature
Steedman, S., M. et al. (1992) Chronic-Pain Medications: Equivalence Levels and Method of Quantifying Usage; The Clinical Journal of Pain, 8:204-214, Raven Press
Harden, R.N. et al. (2005) Medication Quantification Scale Version III: Update in Medication Classes and Revised Detriment Weights by Survey of American Pain Society Physicians. The Journal of Pain; Vol. 5, No. 6, pp. 364-371
MQS Test Server
Here is the link to the MQS Calculator.
http://mqs.pain-initiative.com
