Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39292266›Full record

ArticleSchmerz (Berlin, Germany)2026

[Regional comparison of specialized outpatient and (partial) inpatient pain medicine care in Germany].

Joachim Erlenwein, Johanna Buchholz, Christoph Weißmann, Beata Hennig, Ursula Marschall, Eberhardt Sumpf, Johannes Nolte, Frank Petzke

Abstract readComparative StudyEnglish Abstract
In one paragraph

Article in Schmerz (Berlin, Germany), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Observational
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Joachim ErlenweinKlinik für Anästhesiologie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075, Göttingen, Deutschland. joachim.erlenwein@med.uni-goettingen.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4782-3402
Johanna BuchholzKlinik für Anästhesiologie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075, Göttingen, Deutschland.
Christoph WeißmannKlinik für Anästhesiologie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075, Göttingen, Deutschland.
Beata HennigBARMER - Institut für Gesundheitssystemforschung, Berlin, Deutschland.
Ursula MarschallBARMER - Institut für Gesundheitssystemforschung, Berlin, Deutschland.
Eberhardt SumpfÜberörtliche Praxisgemeinschaft für Schmerzmedizin Hann. Münden und Göttingen, Hann. Münden, Deutschland.
Johannes NolteKlinik für Anästhesiologie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075, Göttingen, Deutschland.
Frank PetzkeKlinik für Anästhesiologie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075, Göttingen, Deutschland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectiveChronic pain requires graduated and staged levels of care. The aim of this study is to provide a regional overview regarding the accessibility of specialized outpatient and (partial) inpatient pain medicine care from the patient's perspective in Germany. MATERIAL AND

methodsFor 1000 model patients randomly generated from German postal code location combinations, the travelling time by car (individual transport, IT) and available public transport connections (PTC) to the nearest specialized outpatient and inpatient pain medicine clinics and units were assessed using a route planner.

resultsOutpatient facilities (in a practice setting) were mostly realistically accessible depending on the proportion of pain treatment and the networking structure. University pain outpatient clinics were at a critically reachable distance with IT for 70% of the patients (80% with PTC) and had unrealistic accessibility for 49% of the patients with IT (68% with PTC). Interdisciplinary multimodal pain programs in day clinics were at a critically reachable distance for 68% of patients with IT (83% with PTC) and in 49% (75% PTC) at an unrealistic travelling time distance considering the more intense treatment requiring frequent travel. Full inpatient interdisciplinary multimodal treatment was more realistically reachable (IT 39% critical, 14% unrealistic, PTC 61% critical, 48% unrealistic).

conclusionThe results show relevant nationwide differences in the accessibility of facilities for specialized pain treatment depending on the place of residence. Considering the treatment of a chronic condition with long-term therapeutic goals and the need for graduated care (outpatient and inpatient treatment), the results reveal a partly critical situation from the patient's perspective.

Indexed as

Ambulatory CareChronic PainHealth Services AccessibilityHospitalizationPain ClinicsPain ManagementCombined Modality TherapyGermanyHumansInterdisciplinary CommunicationIntersectoral CollaborationAccessibility of health servicesChronic painHealth care security or medical care reliabilityInterdisciplinary multimodal pain therapyPublic health

Identifiers

PMID39292266
PMCPMC12858620

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.