• Kun-Ming Rau, Jen-Shi Chen, Hung-Bo Wu, Sheng-Fung Lin, Ming-Lih Huang, Cheng-Jeng Tai, Wen-Li Hwang, Yin-Che Lu, Chuan-Cheng Wang, and Kuen HsiehRueyRDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taiwan..
• Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung.
• Jpn. J. Clin. Oncol. 2017 Nov 1; 47 (11): 1060-1065.

BackgroundWe have limited knowledge about cancer patients' pain control satisfaction in outpatient departments in Taiwan and doctors' practice of adjusting analgesics according to their pain status. This survey examined pain management and satisfaction among cancer outpatients with pain and obtained information on their quality of life and treatment management for different pain intensities.MethodsThe Short version of the Brief Pain Inventory was used as the outcome questionnaire. Participants comprised 2075 patients with different cancers and disease statuses at 14 oncological outpatient departments, of which 1051 reported pain within the week prior to testing. The impact of pain management on physical and psychological functioning, and satisfaction with doctors were evaluated. Information about doctors' prescriptions was collected. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate whether the interference scale performed identically in the different analgesic ladders.ResultsPain was significantly linked to disease status and affected patients' physical and psychiatric functioning. Almost 100% of patients were satisfied with their pain control, but more than 70% of doctors did not change analgesics based on patients' current pain status. The results show that although patients were satisfied with their physicians, treatment of cancer pain was still suboptimal.ConclusionPain assessment and treatment need to be more thorough and management guidelines should be revised to improve pain control in patients with cancer.© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press.

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