Clinicians’ practice and attitudes toward cancer pain management in Korea |
| |
Authors: | Yeon Soo Jeon Hoon Kyo Kim Charles S Cleeland Xin Shelley Wang |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Saint Vincent’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, 93-6 Chi-dong, Paldal-gu, Suwon, 442-723, South Korea;(2) Department of Hemato-oncology, Saint Vincent’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, 93-6 Chi-dong, Paldal-gu, Suwon, 442-723, South Korea;(3) Department of Symptom Research, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 221, Houston, TX 77030, USA |
| |
Abstract: | Objectives The purposes of this study were to assess clinicians’ (n = 250) current practices and attitudes about cancer pain management and to identify perceived concerns about and barriers
to pain control in urban cancer-treatment settings in Korea.
Materials and methods Survey data (20 items) were collected either by mail or interview. Approximately 40% of the sample were nurses. More medical
clinicians than surgical clinicians had more than 5 years of experience with cancer care (43 vs 31%) and committed more than
30% of their working hours to palliation (61 vs 19%). Significantly more medical clinicians claimed to be somewhat more or
much more liberal than their professional peers in using analgesics compared with surgical clinicians (54 vs 35%). The liberal
sample was more likely to be male (OR = 3.3, p < 0.001) and to be more experienced with cancer care (OR = 1.2, p < 0.001). Medical clinicians also reported more adequate pain-management training and a more proactive approach to assessing
and treating pain.
Results Overall, the greatest concerns regarding opioid use were safety, side effects, and fear of addiction. Inadequate pain assessment
and lack of staff knowledge and time were identified as barriers to pain management. Unrealistic expectations and denial from
both patient and family were the most troublesome issues for delivery of care to dying patients. This study suggests a more
conservative attitude toward cancer pain management in Korea than in other countries surveyed in a similar manner.
Conclusion A combination of routine professional education and dissemination of guidelines is needed to bring about significant improvement
in cancer pain control in Korea. |
| |
Keywords: | Cancer Pain management Current practice and attitude Concerns and barriers Korea |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|