Housestaff training in cancer pain education.
A program for improving housestaff education in cancer pain control was piloted on an inpatient oncology unit during academic year 1992-93. Housestaff (four or five first-year residents and two more senior residents per month) received a three-day lecture series each month. A total of 32 housestaff participated. A questionnaire (Test A) about cancer pain was administered before the series. The subjects scored 58% correct (range 49-69). When Test A was repeated at the end of each rotation, the subjects scored 83% correct (range 82-86, p < 0.0001). A quiz on analgesic dosing (Test B) was also administered. The subjects scored 38% (range 20-56) before the lectures, 81% (range 72-93) immediately after the lectures, and 57% (range 44-67) at the end of the rotation. The authors conclude that this pilot project improves knowledge about cancer pain, but sustained reinforcement is needed if analgesic dosing skills are to be maintained.
von Gunten
C F
CF
Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
von Roenn
J H
JH
Weitzman
S
S
D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires