title: Assessment and treatment of symptoms among Italian medical oncologists.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Department, Supportive Care Task Force, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy. porzio1@interfree.it
authors.forename: Giampiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Porzio
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aielli
authors.forename: Lucilla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Verna
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ricevuto
authors.forename: Anna Iolanda
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Rispoli
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cannita
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ficorella
mesh_terms: 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