Diagnosis and treatment of cancer breakthrough pain in opinions of physicians working in Outpatients&#8217; Palliative Care Units and Pain Clinics

Marcin Janecki; Joanna Janecki; Jadwiga Pyszkowska

Vol 11, No 2 (2012)

Original articles

Published online: 2013-03-15

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Diagnosis and treatment of cancer breakthrough pain in opinions of physicians working in Outpatients’ Palliative Care Units and Pain Clinics

Marcin Janecki, Joanna Janecki, Jadwiga Pyszkowska

Advances in Palliative Medicine 2012;11(2):43-47.

Vol 11, No 2 (2012)

Original articles

Published online: 2013-03-15

Abstract

Breakthrough pain (BtP) is common among patients suffering from cancer pain. The experience, knowledge and education of palliative care physicians or pain management specialists seem to be essential for proper diagnosis and treatment of breakthrough pain. The purpose of this study was to determine the scope and assess the knowledge of physicians regarding BtP and its management. 135 physicians have participated in the study and completed special questionnaires for the period from April to July 2010. The vast majority of surveyed physicians (133 out of 135) declared that they diagnosed the BtP in their patients, usually 2 to 3 episodes a day. The time for the pain to become maximal, in the opinion of 73% of physicians, was usually between 5 to 30 minutes, the average duration of the breakthrough pain episode approximately was 15– –30 minutes. The vast majority of respondents prescribed pharmacological treatment to manage the BtP episodes, most commonly morphine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acetaminophen and tramadol.