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.
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.
Authors: Sebastiano Mercadante; Fausto Roila; Oscar Berretto; Roberto Labianca; Stefania Casilini Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2008-05-14 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: M H J van den Beuken-van Everdingen; J M de Rijke; A G Kessels; H C Schouten; M van Kleef; J Patijn Journal: Ann Oncol Date: 2007-03-12 Impact factor: 32.976
Authors: C S Cleeland; R Gonin; A K Hatfield; J H Edmonson; R H Blum; J A Stewart; K J Pandya Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1994-03-03 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Sebastiano Mercadante; Federica Aielli; Francesco Masedu; Marco Valenti; Lucilla Verna; Giampiero Porzio Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2015-10-16 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Sebastiano Mercadante; Paolo Marchetti; Claudio Adile; Amanda Caruselli; Patrizia Ferrera; Andrea Costanzi; Alessandra Casuccio Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2018-01-08 Impact factor: 3.603