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Cancer pain management in an oncological ward in a comprehensive cancer center with an established palliative care unit.

AbstractBACKGROUND:
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.
AuthorsSebastiano Mercadante, Costanza Guccione, Simona Di Fatta, Valentina Alaimo, Giovanna Prestia, Rosanna Bellingardo, Vittorio Gebbia, Antonino Giarratano, Alessandra Casuccio
JournalSupportive 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
PMID23887738 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
Chemical References
  • Analgesics
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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