Purpose : Validity of WHO guideline of cancer pain management has been proven and many trials were done for resolution of inadequate management of cancer pain. We assessed the severity of pain in terminal cancer patients and patient's characteristics ...
Purpose : Validity of WHO guideline of cancer pain management has been proven and many trials were done for resolution of inadequate management of cancer pain. We assessed the severity of pain in terminal cancer patients and patient's characteristics influencing inadequate pain management. Methods : This study was done on 100 patients who was confirmed as terminal in Seoul National University Hospital from lune 1997 to November. For getting the informations about dermographic and medical characteristics such as performance and metastasis, and drug-adjusted pain severity the patients, we reviewed the medical records and interview the patients. we assessed the adequacy of prescribed analgesics with WHO guidelines of pain management, and patient's characteristics influencing on adequacy of pain management. Results : 85.0 percent of cancer patient had pain when diagnosed as terminal cancer and 68% of patient had pain above moderate severity. 38.0 percent of those were given inadequate pain management and the greater pain severity, the less adequate(P<0.001). Sex, age, primary site of cancer, metastasis, symptoms such as depression and anxiety, and performance were not significant. Conclusion : Despite guidelines for pain management, many patients with terminal cancer received inadequate pan management. Their is a need for education about evaluation of pain and guidelines of pain management.