PURPOSE: Pain severely impairs health-related quality of life and is a feared symptom among cancer patients. Unfortunately, patients often do not receive optimal care. We wanted to evaluate the quality of cancer pain treatment in Norwegian hospitals. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A one-day prevalence study targeting hospitalised cancer patients above 18 years of age was performed. A questionnaire based on the Brief Pain Inventory was used, and additional information regarding sex, age, diagnosis, break through pain (BTP), and treatment was included. RESULTS: Fifty two percent of the included patients stated having cancer related pain (n=453), and mean pain during the previous 24 hours for these patients was NRS 3.99 (Numeric Rating scale 1-10). Presence of metastasis, occurrence of BTP, and abnormal skin sensibility in the area of pain were associated with higher pain scores. Forty two percent of all patients used opioids. However, these patients still had higher pain scores, more episodes of BTP, and more influence of the pain on daily life functions than average. Thirty percent of patients with severe pain (NRS>or=5) did not use opioids, and some of these patients did not receive any analgesics at all. CONCLUSION: Although most cancer patients receive an acceptable pain treatment in Norwegian hospitals, there are patients who are not adequately managed. Lack of basic knowledge and individual systematic symptom assessment may be reasons for the underuse of analgesics and the resulting unnecessary suffering among the cancer patients.
PURPOSE:Pain severely impairs health-related quality of life and is a feared symptom among cancerpatients. Unfortunately, patients often do not receive optimal care. We wanted to evaluate the quality of cancer pain treatment in Norwegian hospitals. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A one-day prevalence study targeting hospitalised cancerpatients above 18 years of age was performed. A questionnaire based on the Brief Pain Inventory was used, and additional information regarding sex, age, diagnosis, break through pain (BTP), and treatment was included. RESULTS: Fifty two percent of the included patients stated having cancer related pain (n=453), and mean pain during the previous 24 hours for these patients was NRS 3.99 (Numeric Rating scale 1-10). Presence of metastasis, occurrence of BTP, and abnormal skin sensibility in the area of pain were associated with higher pain scores. Forty two percent of all patients used opioids. However, these patients still had higher pain scores, more episodes of BTP, and more influence of the pain on daily life functions than average. Thirty percent of patients with severe pain (NRS>or=5) did not use opioids, and some of these patients did not receive any analgesics at all. CONCLUSION: Although most cancerpatients receive an acceptable pain treatment in Norwegian hospitals, there are patients who are not adequately managed. Lack of basic knowledge and individual systematic symptom assessment may be reasons for the underuse of analgesics and the resulting unnecessary suffering among the cancerpatients.
Authors: Ragnhild Habberstad; M J Hjermstad; C Brunelli; S Kaasa; M I Bennett; K Pardon; P Klepstad Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2018-08-13 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Morten Thronæs; Sunil X Raj; Cinzia Brunelli; Sigrun Saur Almberg; Ola Magne Vagnildhaug; Susanna Bruheim; Birgit Helgheim; Stein Kaasa; Anne Kari Knudsen Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2015-12-28 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Joseph Arthur; Kimberson Tanco; Ali Haider; Courtney Maligi; Minjeong Park; Diane Liu; Eduardo Bruera Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2017-04-06 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Ragnhild Habberstad; Trude Camilla Salvesen Frøseth; Nina Aass; Tatiana Abramova; Theo Baas; Siri Tessem Mørkeset; Augusto Caraceni; Barry Laird; Jason W Boland; Romina Rossi; Elena Garcia-Alonso; Hanne Stensheim; Jon Håvard Loge; Marianne Jensen Hjermstad; Ellen Bjerkeset; Asta Bye; Jo-Åsmund Lund; Tora Skeidsvoll Solheim; Ola Magne Vagnildhaug; Cinzia Brunelli; Jan Kristian Damås; Tom Eirik Mollnes; Stein Kaasa; Pål Klepstad Journal: BMC Palliat Care Date: 2018-09-28 Impact factor: 3.234