title: Regulation of opioid drugs in thai government hospitals: Thailand national survey 2012.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Palliative care in Thailand was not well developed in the past. Previous studies showed that the actual prescription of opioids was underutilized in palliative care by physicians compared with the estimated opioid need of patients. However, there were no studies regarding the regulation of opioids in Thailand.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide an up-to-date overview of the role of multidisciplinary teams in the regulation of opioids in Thai government hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire survey study was conducted from January to April 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  The questionnaire was distributed to entire population of government hospitals in Thailand and all private hospitals in Bangkok. There were 975 hospitals, including 93 private hospitals in Bangkok and 882 government hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Results are presented as a frequency and percentage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Special opioid prescription forms must be signed by doctors for all opioid prescriptions. Three-fourths of hospitals totally prohibited prescribing oral opioids by palliative care Advance Practice Nurses. Pharmacists were permitted to correct the technical errors on a prescription of oral morphine only after notifying the prescribing doctor in nearly 60% of hospitals. In terminal patients who could not go to the hospitals, caregivers were permitted to collect the opioids on behalf of patients in nearly 80% of hospitals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results illustrate that the regulation of opioids in government hospitals is mainly dependent on physician judgment. Patients can only receive oral morphine at a hospital pharmacy.
authors.affiliation: Wang Chao Community Hospital, Wang Chao District, Tak, Thailand.
authors.forename: Rojanasak
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thongkhamcharoen
authors.affiliation: Division of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, Songklanagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Temsak
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Phungrassami
authors.affiliation: Bureau of Service Quality Development, National Health Security Office, Thailand.
authors.forename: Narumol
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Atthakul
keywords: Pain management; Palliative care; Regulation of opioids; Thailand