Use of routine and breakthrough analgesia in home care.
OBJECTIVE
To describe current use of routine analgesics in home care and the treatment of breakthrough pain.


METHODS
Descriptive, companion study.


METHODS
Homecare agencies in southern California.


METHODS
Convenience sample of 369 patients with cancer participating in a pain-education study.


METHODS
Data regarding breakthrough pain were derived from the homecare medical records and patient interviews.


METHODS
Analgesic medications prescribed and used for treatment of routine and breakthrough cancer pain.


RESULTS
Results demonstrate discrepancy between recommended pain management in clinical practice guidelines and the actual practice of pain management at home. Deficiencies were found in medications prescribed as well as in actual use by patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Optimum relief of cancer pain is contingent on adequate treatment of routine and breakthrough pain, including greater use of recommended analgesics in adequate doses and clinical care consistent with clinical practice guidelines.


CONCLUSIONS
Breakthrough pain is a common problem affecting the quality of life of patients with cancer. Improved management of breakthrough pain is contingent on accurate pain assessment, optimum use of analgesics, and patient education. Nurses should address the important topic of breakthrough pain as new analgesic drugs and methods of delivery become available.
Ferrell
B R
BR
Nursing Research and Education Department, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA. bferrell@coh.org
Juarez
G
G
Borneman
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002140:California; D004338:Drug Combinations; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D005260:Female; D006701:Home Nursing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing*; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D004338:Drug Combinations