title: Pain relief and palliative care in Hong Kong.
abstract: Palliative care started in Hong Kong in 1982. It gradually established an increasingly important role in cancer care. Hong Kong is fortunate because analgesic drugs and expertise from various disciplines and specialties in pain management are readily available. A holistic approach to pain management has been adopted; various dimensions of pain are assessed and managed, and outcomes evaluated. Despite efforts in public education, patient-related barriers to pain management still exist, and it is important that misconceptions of patients be corrected. To promote the quality of palliative care and pain management, efforts have been made to provide training of healthcare professionals, and on formation of professional societies for palliative care doctors and nurses. In Hong Kong, palliative medicine achieved medical specialty status in 1998, with a curriculum and a structured training program designed for doctors interested in this field. Efforts are underway to further improve palliative care and pain management in Hong Kong through the formation of consultative teams in general hospitals, enhanced liaison with nursing homes, and possibly by redefining the role of traditional Chinese medicine in pain management.
authors.affiliation: Nam Long Hospital, 30 Nam Long Shan Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong SAR, China. shammk@ha.org.hk
authors.forename: Mau Kwong Michael
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Sham
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000600:supply & distribution / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004501:Education, Medical; D004506:Education, Nursing; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006694:Holistic Health; D006723:Hong Kong; D017051:Hospice Care; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D016730:Program Development; D013038:Specialization
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid