Natl Med J India
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Natl Med J India
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Pain is present in more than 75% of patients with advanced cancer and is often under-treated. Adequate pain control is an essential component of patient care. By correctly following the WHO analgesic ladder, pain can be controlled in nearly 90% of patients with cancer. Clinical audits help to improve patient care. Hence, an audit was done on documentation of pain and prescription of analgesics in patients with cancer admitted to a medical ward. ⋯ There was improvement in correctly following the WHO analgesic guidelines and prescribing breakthrough analgesics but not in documentation of pain. Clinical audits and interventions such as teaching, pocket guidelines and posters can result in better patient care.