[Pain management of lung cancer patients by general practitioners].
BACKGROUND
This study evaluated the place of general practitioners (GP) in managing pain of lung cancer (LC) patients and their knowledge of specific guidelines.


METHODS
Prospective study including LC patients presenting with pain with a need for WHO (World Health Organisation) level III medication. Pain evaluation (Brief Pain Inventory), current treatment and patients with doctor satisfaction were evaluated. Patients' GP were invited to answer a questionnaire.


RESULTS
Fifty-nine patients (median age, 58 years), mainly stage IV Non Small Cell LC (n = 40) were included. Before treatment, 47 patients presented with moderate/severe pain which moderately/severely impacts on daily activities. Patients were mainly satisfied with their GP. Fifty-six GP were questioned (35 answered, 62.5%). Twenty-four known guidelines but no one had a specific training for pain management. Twenty-five used visual analogical scales for pain evaluation but morphine's prescription largely varies when compared with guidelines.


CONCLUSIONS
Pain management for lung cancer patients seems always perfectible and development of specific training represents a pragmatic short term objective.
Barlési
Fabrice
F
Faculté de Médecine, Université de la Méditerranée, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Service d'Oncologie Thoracique, Fédération des Maladies Respiratoires, Hôpital Sainte-Marguerite, Marseille, France. fabrice.barlesi@mail.ap-hm.fr
Picard
Mathieu
M
Astoul
Philippe
P
Villani
Patrick
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011446:Prospective Studies