Wen-Chi Shen1, Jen-Shi Chen1, Yu-Yun Shao2, Kuan-Der Lee3, Tzeon-Jye Chiou4, Yung-Chuan Sung5, Kun-Ming Rau6, Chia-Jui Yen7, Yu-Min Liao8, Ta-Chih Liu9, Ming-Fang Wu10, Ming-Yang Lee11, Ming-Sun Yu12, Wen-Li Hwang13, Pang-Yu Lai14, Cheng-Shyong Chang15, Wen-Chi Chou16, Ruey-Kuen Hsieh17. 1. Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Linkuo Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. 2. Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 3. Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan. 4. Division of Hematology-Oncology, Taipei Veteran General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 5. Division of Hematology-Oncology, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 6. Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 7. Division of Hematology-Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan. 8. Division of Hematology-Oncology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. 9. Division of Hematology-Oncology, Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 10. Division of Hematology-Oncology, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. 11. Division of Hematology-Oncology, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chiayi Christian Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan. 12. Division of Hematology-Oncology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 13. Division of Hematology-Oncology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. 14. Division of Hematology-Oncology, E-DA Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 15. Division of Hematology-Oncology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan. 16. Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Linkuo Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. Electronic address: f12986@cgmh.org.tw. 17. Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: hsieh.simonrk@gmail.com.
Abstract
CONTEXT: Undertreatment of cancer pain among outpatient cancer patients needs to be addressed to enhance care and improve patients' quality of life (QoL). OBJECTIVES: This prospective, cross-sectional, patient-focused study aimed to explore the prevalence of pain and undertreatment of cancer pain in outpatients in Taiwan. METHODS: A total of 2652 non-selected outpatients with cancer and aged 20 years or older from 16 medical centers across Taiwan were included in this survey. All patients completed a questionnaire based on the Brief Pain Inventory. Pain management index (PMI) was used to evaluate the adequacy of pain management. Possible clinical variables of patients with positive PMI were examined by univariate and multivariate logistic regressions. RESULTS: A total of 1659 (62.6%) outpatients had experienced some degree of pain; among these, 32.4% had negative PMI. Patients with a negative PMI score had significantly poor outcomes of QoL and a significantly higher tendency toward dissatisfaction with pain control by the physician and with the prescribed analgesic drugs. Female gender, primary tumor from breast, non-cancer-related cause of pain, and hospital locations from north Taiwan were independent variables that predicated patients with undertreatment of cancer pain. Most importantly, a forward trend of undertreatment of pain among patients who presented with lower prevalent rate of pain was observed. CONCLUSION: One-third of Taiwanese outpatients experienced pain because of undertreatment. Awareness of the prevalence of undertreatment of cancer pain and identification of the vulnerable subjects may assist in enhancing patient care and improving patient's QoL.
CONTEXT: Undertreatment of cancer pain among outpatientcancerpatients needs to be addressed to enhance care and improve patients' quality of life (QoL). OBJECTIVES: This prospective, cross-sectional, patient-focused study aimed to explore the prevalence of pain and undertreatment of cancer pain in outpatients in Taiwan. METHODS: A total of 2652 non-selected outpatients with cancer and aged 20 years or older from 16 medical centers across Taiwan were included in this survey. All patients completed a questionnaire based on the Brief Pain Inventory. Pain management index (PMI) was used to evaluate the adequacy of pain management. Possible clinical variables of patients with positive PMI were examined by univariate and multivariate logistic regressions. RESULTS: A total of 1659 (62.6%) outpatients had experienced some degree of pain; among these, 32.4% had negative PMI. Patients with a negative PMI score had significantly poor outcomes of QoL and a significantly higher tendency toward dissatisfaction with pain control by the physician and with the prescribed analgesic drugs. Female gender, primary tumor from breast, non-cancer-related cause of pain, and hospital locations from north Taiwan were independent variables that predicated patients with undertreatment of cancer pain. Most importantly, a forward trend of undertreatment of pain among patients who presented with lower prevalent rate of pain was observed. CONCLUSION: One-third of Taiwanese outpatients experienced pain because of undertreatment. Awareness of the prevalence of undertreatment of cancer pain and identification of the vulnerable subjects may assist in enhancing patient care and improving patient's QoL.
Authors: Morten Thronæs; Trude Rakel Balstad; Cinzia Brunelli; Erik Torbjørn Løhre; Pål Klepstad; Ola Magne Vagnildhaug; Stein Kaasa; Anne Kari Knudsen; Tora Skeidsvoll Solheim Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2019-07-09 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Costanza M Donati; Elena Nardi; Alice Zamagni; Giambattista Siepe; Filippo Mammini; Francesco Cellini; Alessia Di Rito; Maurizio Portaluri; Cristina De Tommaso; Anna Santacaterina; Consuelo Tamburella; Rossella Di Franco; Salvatore Parisi; Sabrina Cossa; Vincenzo Fusco; Antonella Bianculli; Pierpaolo Ziccarelli; Luigi Ziccarelli; Domenico Genovesi; Luciana Caravatta; Francesco Deodato; Gabriella Macchia; Francesco Fiorica; Giuseppe Napoli; Milly Buwenge; Romina Rossi; Marco Maltoni; Alessio G Morganti Journal: Cancers (Basel) Date: 2022-09-25 Impact factor: 6.575