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Evaluation of effectiveness of pain therapy in patients admitted to the Białystok Hospice
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Abstract
Material and methods. Forty patients were recruited into the study. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for estimation of pain intensity.
Results. 30/40 patients (75%) suffered from pain on the first day of observation. 12/30 (40%) of patients had moderate pain (VAS > 3-5) and 11/30 (36,7%) of patients had strong pain (VAS > 5). All patients were treated according to the tree-step analgesic ladder of WHO. Drugs of I° provided adequate analgesia till the end of observation for one person, while drugs of II° for 11 patients. 66.6% of all examined individuals needed strong opioids. During pain treatment the percentage of patients with well-controlled pain was increasing, however on 21.4% of the examined days the patients still had moderate pain, and on 8.1% of all the days of observation the patients had strong pain.
Conclusions. 90% of palliative cancer patients suffer from pain. Pharmacotherapy according to the WHO tree-step analgesic ladder provides effective pain control for over two thirds of patients.
Abstract
Material and methods. Forty patients were recruited into the study. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for estimation of pain intensity.
Results. 30/40 patients (75%) suffered from pain on the first day of observation. 12/30 (40%) of patients had moderate pain (VAS > 3-5) and 11/30 (36,7%) of patients had strong pain (VAS > 5). All patients were treated according to the tree-step analgesic ladder of WHO. Drugs of I° provided adequate analgesia till the end of observation for one person, while drugs of II° for 11 patients. 66.6% of all examined individuals needed strong opioids. During pain treatment the percentage of patients with well-controlled pain was increasing, however on 21.4% of the examined days the patients still had moderate pain, and on 8.1% of all the days of observation the patients had strong pain.
Conclusions. 90% of palliative cancer patients suffer from pain. Pharmacotherapy according to the WHO tree-step analgesic ladder provides effective pain control for over two thirds of patients.
Keywords
pain; pharmacotherapy of pain
About this articleTitle
Evaluation of effectiveness of pain therapy in patients admitted to the Białystok Hospice
Journal
Advances in Palliative Medicine
Issue
Vol 2, No 4 (2003): Polish Palliative Medicine
Pages
215-220
Published online
2003-09-30
Page views
600
Article views/downloads
3157
Bibliographic record
Advances in Palliative Medicine 2003;2(4):215-220.
Keywords
pain
pharmacotherapy of pain
Authors
Dominika Mucha
Monika Kruczkowska
Monika Rucińska
Marek Z. Wojtukiewicz