[Pain treatment of patients with incurable malignant tumors].
OBJECTIVE
Efficacious pain therapy is one of the main challenges in the management of patients with advanced cancer. It was the aim of this study to ascertain whether adequate pain treatment was achieved in a palliative care unit and what changes in medical treatment were undertaken during the patients stay in this unit.


METHODS
Medication against pain and pain intensity were documented during hospital care of 94 patients with cancer (mean age: 66.8 years; female/male 52.2/47.8%; discharged/deceased 58.5/41.5%) at admission and discharge. 32 patients were interviewed by phone after discharge about their current perception and intensity of pain, as well as their health.


RESULTS
Highly significant reduction of pain intensity was achieved in all patients while receiving palliative care. Only those patients who were on oral morphine at admission to hospital required significantly raised morphine dosages while receiving palliative treatment. The other patients did not need significant changes of opioid medication. Pain reduction persisted even after discharge.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with advanced cancer the effects of psychological, social and spiritual factors on their perception of pain is probably of greater importance in achieving efficacious pain reduction than a change of medication. Further studies will be needed to confirm these findings.
Schwarzer
A
A
Klinik für Anaesthesiologie, Intensiv- und Schmerztherapie, Berufsgenossenschaftliche Kliniken Bergmannsheil, Universitätsklinik, Bochum. Andreas.Schwarzer@ruhr-uni-bochum.de
Klaschik
E
E
Nauck
F
F
D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care
D000700:Analgesics; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid