[Pain therapy in oncology: results of a nationwide survey].
BACKGROUND
Pain is one of the most prevalent and distressing symptoms of patients suffering from cancer. In the field of oncology comprehensive expertise is pursued not only with respect to the administration of anticancer treatment but to all fields that relate to the needs of cancer patients. However, the results of studies have revealed persisting and relevant deficits in pain therapy in the setting of oncology.


METHODS
An online survey was performed involving all members of the German Society for Hematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO) with respect to training and continuing education in pain therapy, the relevance for routine oncology and knowledge, to determine the level of expertise in pain therapy and the assessment of tumor-specific therapy.


RESULTS
A total of 183 out of 1,962 questionnaires could be evaluated. Oncologists are often engaged in pain therapy and 80 % of the respondents perceived themselves as being primarily responsible for pain control. Education and assessment were identified as barriers to sufficient pain therapy. Case vignettes revealed only few relevant therapeutic misinterpretations.


CONCLUSIONS
This first survey of German oncologists exploring expertise in cancer pain therapy, showed similar problems in education and pain assessment as previous international studies. Despite the claimed responsibility for pain management, there were a small but relevant number of oncologists who showed serious therapeutic misinterpretations in case studies.
Klinik für Palliativmedizin, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075, Göttingen, Deutschland, bernd.alt-epping@med.uni-goettingen.de.
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B
Alt-Epping
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Bauer
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U
Schuler
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F
Nauck
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Strohscheer
D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005858:Germany; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006306:Health Surveys; D006405:Hematology / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000193:education; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012955:Societies, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000700:Analgesics; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents