Der Schmerz
-
The importance of opioids in the treatment of non-cancer pain is under debate. No current data are available from Germany on the prevalence of opioid treatment for non-cancer pain. ⋯ Opioid therapy for non-cancer-related pain is predominantly carried out by general practitioners in older and multi-morbid patients. The indication for or against opioid therapy requires shared decision-making with patients and, if necessary, their relatives, as well as a review of possible drug interactions.
-
Pain medicine is an interdisciplinary and interprofessional field of specialisation. Due to concerns about new recruits and an aging workforce, especially among physicians, it is important to better understand professional and career pathways in pain medicine. ⋯ The results emphasise the critical perspectives regarding the future provision of care for people with chronic pain. The results provide, for the first time, an insight into the career routes of staff in the field of pain medicine and their motivations and job satisfaction, which should be considered in the discussion about ensuring personnel resources in the future.
-
This article deals with the interrelationship between body, mind and culture with respect to being healthy and being ill. If one wants to treat not only sickness but also sick people, it is helpful to be aware not only of the somatic and psychological dimensions of a disease but also of the "cultural" dimension of a disease. ⋯ Furthermore, it is shown that not only being sick but also the sick body can be understood in somatic, psychological and cultural dimensions and that a distinction must be made between the body as it physically is and as it is subjectively perceived. Finally, an insight into the complexity of the somatopsychic and psychosomatic interactions is provided in order to derivatively show how mental stress can lead to physical pain and physical pain can become a mental stressor.
-
Comparative Study
[Concept-dependent and -independent care effects of site-specific care concepts using "pain" as an example].
Structures of palliative care, cross-sectoral transitions and care pathways of patients with palliative care needs were investigated at two sites. The systematic comparison of similarities and differences using the topic of 'pain' as an example is intended to provide information on the extent to which these are related to site-specific palliative care concepts (integrated and cooperative). ⋯ Commonalities and differences with regard to the topic of pain, as focused on here, and its organisational management become tangible as effects of the respective organisational structure (= concept-dependent) as well as concept-independent external influencing factors.