Pain Services in the Netherlands: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study on Organisation, Tasks and Responsibilities

AIMS: Providing an overview of the organisation, tasks, and responsibilities of acute and transitional pain services in the Netherlands.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional questionnaire study.

METHODS: An online questionnaire was sent to representatives of Dutch hospital pain services performing inpatient surgery. It included items on organisation, staffing, education, roles, tasks and responsibilities. Data were analysed descriptively.

RESULTS: Of the surveyed hospitals, 92.2% reported having an acute pain service, while only 6.5% had a transitional pain service. Most pain services (acute pain services 76.3%, transitional pain services 80.0%) are part of the anaesthesiology department. Staffing includes anaesthesiologists, nurses, and/or nurse anaesthetists, with or without pain specialisation. Acute pain service teams monitor complex pain management techniques. Nearly all acute pain services (89.8%) provide pain management training, and 60% monitor hospital-wide pain management quality. All transitional pain services monitored opioid use post-discharge and conducted follow-up calls with patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Acute pain services are well established in Dutch hospitals, whereas transitional pain services remain limited. Organisational structures, tasks, and responsibilities vary, with key challenges in staffing, service organisation, and education. Future research should focus on optimising staffing, expanding transitional pain services, the role of the pain nurse, and establishing a national pain management education framework.

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND PATIENT CARE: This study highlights the significant impact of pain nurses as a central professional within the interdisciplinary team, contributing to quality care and education, ultimately benefiting patients.

IMPACT: This study provides a current overview of pain services in the Netherlands, supporting pain nurses in innovating pain services, highlighting key challenges and opportunities for improvement.

REPORTING METHOD: STROBE checklist.

PATIENT/PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT: None.