Assessment and treatment of symptoms among Italian medical oncologists.
OBJECTIVE
This work was conducted to evaluate symptoms assessment and use of patient-tailored protocols in clinical practice among Italian medical oncologists.


METHODS
A questionnaire based on four topics (assessment of symptoms, assessment of a specific symptom, assessment of pain, use of patient-tailored protocols of treatment) was administered to 250 Italian medical oncologists.


RESULTS
Of these oncologists, 43.7% used multiple symptoms tools and 37.9% used symptom specific tools; 58.9% used some instrument to assess pain. More than a third of the respondents (35.5%) used patient-tailored protocols. No statistical differences were found regarding region of residency, availability of consultants in pain therapy and/or palliative care, colleagues with main interest on palliative care, and beds dedicated to palliative care. Statistically significant differences were found regarding the position (staff/resident) in three out four topics.


CONCLUSIONS
Among Italian medical oncologists, the instruments used for assessment of symptoms are poorly employed. Even when these instruments are used, patient-tailored protocols are rarely administered.
Porzio
Giampiero
G
Medical Oncology Department, Supportive Care Task Force, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy. porzio1@interfree.it
Valenti
Marco
M
Aielli
Federica
F
Verna
Lucilla
L
Ricevuto
Enrico
E
Rispoli
Anna Iolanda
AI
Cannita
Katia
K
Marchetti
Paolo
P
Ficorella
Corrado
C
D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007558:Italy; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000592:standards*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires