title: Breakthrough pain management in patients undergoing radiotherapy: a national survey on behalf of the Palliative and Supportive Care Study Group.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the contribution of radiation oncologists in Italy in current management of breakthrough pain (BtP).
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2012, the Palliative and Supportive Care Study Group of the Italian Association of Radiation Oncology (AIRO) proposed a survey. All Italian radiation oncologists were individually invited to complete an online questionnaire regarding their management of BtP in patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 303 Italian radiation oncologists (of 330 who had access to the Web site) completed the questionnaire over an 8-month period. Some important differences were shown in pain intensity assessment by validated measurement scales, as well as in setting and prescribing analgesic therapy to prevent procedural pain. These differences were also reviewed and discussed related to international guidelines and data available from the literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to other medical professionals, the involvement of radiation oncologists in cancer pain management remains marginal, at least in Italy. More than 70% of radiation oncologists directly optimized the analgesic therapy during the treatment course and more than 50% implemented specific treatment for BtP. However, the ability of the radiation oncologist to manage BtP could be improved. In order to increase the consciousness of systematic symptom measurement and to spread the knowledge of the best type of analgesic drugs to be used, training events promoted by national associations, such as AIRO, and a collaborative multidisciplinary approach of the management of cancer pain will be promoted.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department, "San Francesco" Hospital, Nuoro - Italy.
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caravatta
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome - Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramella
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy Unit, "Santa Croce" Hospital, Cuneo - Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Melano
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Centre, "S. Maria" Hospital, Terni - Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Trippa
authors.affiliation: Operative Unit of Radiation Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Papardo-Piemonte, Messina - Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santacaterina
authors.affiliation: Service of Radiation Therapy, San Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza - Italy.
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bacchiddu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Rovigo's State Hospital, Rovigo - Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mandoliti
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioimaging and Radiological Sciences, Unit of Radiation Oncology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome - Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mantini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059390:Breakthrough Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D018787:Radiation Oncology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid