Publications
APS Bulletin • Volume 15, Number 1, Winter 2005
Web Site Reviews
Michael E. Clark, PhD, Department Editor
American Alliance of Cancer Pain Initiatives
Reviewed by Mitchell Nazario
Site Audience
This Web site is the home of the American Alliance of Cancer Pain Initiatives (AACPI), a national network of state-based Pain Initiatives. The site is supported in part by the Pain Management Improvement Group of the University of Wisconsin Medical School. State Pain Initiatives (SPIs) are located throughout the 50 States, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. Initiatives are voluntary grass roots organizations representing a wide array of practice specialties whose participants are charged to provide education and advocacy to healthcare providers, cancer patients, and their families.
Content Appraisal
SPIs disseminate pain management information, educate healthcare professionals, and raise public and patient awareness of cancer-pain problems. SPIs also promote practice change and advocate for the removal of pain management barriers at the regulatory and legislative levels. The Web site is presented with links that address these issues. The site has a “Resources” section and a “What’s New” section that provide educational and organizational information and resources for medical professionals and patients alike. The “Regulatory” section provides useful information on federal and state pain-related initiatives and legislation. Links to Medicaid Web sites and pain-related federal legislation are provided. An “Events” section provides a convenient yearly calendar with links to pain-related symposia, meetings, and conferences. Although the main focus of the AACPI is cancer-related pain, many SPIs focus on both cancer and non-cancer pain. Acquiring state specific, pain-related information might be difficult, however, since there are currently 11 State Pain Initiatives that are inactive.
Navigation/Ease of Use
Navigation is easy, since the site is neither graphic nor text heavy. All major sections are conveniently displayed on the home page, allowing for rapid information retrieval.
Recommendations
Overall the site presents useful links and information to healthcare professionals and APS members—particularly in the “Resources” and “Regulatory” sections of the site. The “Calendar of Events” provides convenient links to pain-related symposia, meetings, and conferences. Useful information is given to patients and their families, who may have some difficulty in finding state-specific, pain-related information.
Reviewer content represents the opinion of the reviewer, not APS
Please direct your suggestions for future Web Site Reviews to Michael E. Clark, PhD, Department Editor, at michaeleclark2@msn.com.