Abstract | BACKGROUND: This survey was performed to draw information on pain prevalence, intensity, and management from a sample of patients who were admitted to an oncologic center where a palliative care unit (PCU) has been established for 13 years. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey in an oncological department performed 1 day per month for six consecutive months. RESULTS: Of the 385 patients, 69.1, 19.2, 8.6, and 3.1 % had no pain, mild, moderate, and severe pain, respectively. Inpatients and patients with a low Karnofsky score showed higher levels of pain intensity (p < 0.0005). One hundred twenty-eight patients with pain or receiving analgesics were analyzed for pain management index (PMI). Only a minority of patients had negative PMI score, which was statistically associated with inpatient admission (p = 0.011). Fifty of these 128 patients had breakthrough pain (BTP), and all of them were receiving some medication for BTP. CONCLUSION: It is likely that the presence of PCU team providing consultation, advices, and cultural pressure, other than offering admissions for difficult cases had a positive impact on the use of analgesics, as compared with previous similar surveys performed in oncological setting, where a PCU was unavailable. This information confirms the need of the presence of a PCU in a high volume oncological department.
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Authors | Sebastiano Mercadante, Costanza Guccione, Simona Di Fatta, Valentina Alaimo, Giovanna Prestia, Rosanna Bellingardo, Vittorio Gebbia, Antonino Giarratano, Alessandra Casuccio |
Journal | Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
(Support Care Cancer)
Vol. 21
Issue 12
Pg. 3287-92
(Dec 2013)
ISSN: 1433-7339 [Electronic] Germany |
PMID | 23887738
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adult
- Aged
- Analgesics
(therapeutic use)
- Breakthrough Pain
(drug therapy, etiology)
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Female
- Humans
- Karnofsky Performance Status
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Neoplasms
(complications, drug therapy)
- Pain
(drug therapy, etiology)
- Pain Management
(methods)
- Pain Measurement
- Palliative Care
(methods)
- Prevalence
- Young Adult
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