Yu-Yun Shao1,2,3, Wen-Ying Lin4, Chih-Peng Lin5,4, Li-Chun Lu6,7,5, Chih-Hung Hsu6,7,5. 1. Graduate Institute of Oncology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. yuyunshao@gmail.com. 2. Department of Medical Oncology, National Taiwan University Cancer Center, Taipei, Taiwan. yuyunshao@gmail.com. 3. Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, 10002, Taiwan. yuyunshao@gmail.com. 4. Department of Anesthesiology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 5. Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, 10002, Taiwan. 6. Graduate Institute of Oncology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. 7. Department of Medical Oncology, National Taiwan University Cancer Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Suboptimal cancer pain management is a worldwide problem. We examined whether an educational program on cancer pain management implemented during training could benefit primary care physicians. METHODS: We enrolled all the primary care physicians who visited the oncology ward at a medical center for the first time. Educational classes on cancer pain management were conducted. The participants' abilities in cancer pain management were measured in a pretest before the classes and approximately 2 weeks later in the first posttest. The second posttest was conducted on participants who visited the oncology ward again. All 3 tests had the same set of questions and were scored on a scale of 0 to 100. RESULTS: In total, 247 participants were enrolled. Less than 10% of them considered their previous education on cancer pain management adequate. The test scores increased significantly from the pretest to the first posttest (mean 65.6 vs. 89.7, p < 0.001). The participants' self-reported cancer pain management abilities, on a scale of 0 to 100, also improved significantly (mean 57.8 vs. 75.5, p < 0.001). The pretest scores were not associated with the participants' self-reported abilities or their perceptions about the adequacy of previous training on cancer pain management. The mean score on the second posttest, conducted 234.5 days after the program, on an average, remained similar to that of the first posttest (p = 0.254). CONCLUSION: A specific educational program on cancer pain management provided to primary care physicians improved their pain management skills substantially, with persistent effects.
BACKGROUND: Suboptimal cancer pain management is a worldwide problem. We examined whether an educational program on cancer pain management implemented during training could benefit primary care physicians. METHODS: We enrolled all the primary care physicians who visited the oncology ward at a medical center for the first time. Educational classes on cancer pain management were conducted. The participants' abilities in cancer pain management were measured in a pretest before the classes and approximately 2 weeks later in the first posttest. The second posttest was conducted on participants who visited the oncology ward again. All 3 tests had the same set of questions and were scored on a scale of 0 to 100. RESULTS: In total, 247 participants were enrolled. Less than 10% of them considered their previous education on cancer pain management adequate. The test scores increased significantly from the pretest to the first posttest (mean 65.6 vs. 89.7, p < 0.001). The participants' self-reported cancer pain management abilities, on a scale of 0 to 100, also improved significantly (mean 57.8 vs. 75.5, p < 0.001). The pretest scores were not associated with the participants' self-reported abilities or their perceptions about the adequacy of previous training on cancer pain management. The mean score on the second posttest, conducted 234.5 days after the program, on an average, remained similar to that of the first posttest (p = 0.254). CONCLUSION: A specific educational program on cancer pain management provided to primary care physicians improved their pain management skills substantially, with persistent effects.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cancer pain; Education; Palliative care; Supportive care