Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care. 5(1):20–24, MAR 2011

DOI: 10.1097/SPC.0b013e328342c607

,  

PMID: 21157351

Issn Print: 1751-4258

Publication Date: 2011/03/01


Share this on facebook   Share this on Twitter   Share this on LinkedIn   Email this article  



Print

Education in cancer pain management

Michael Bennett;Kate Flemming;S Closs;

+ Author Information


    loading  Checking for direct PDF access through Ovid

Abstract

Purpose of reviewTo describe the current position of educational interventions within the context of cancer pain management.Recent findingsBarriers to good cancer pain control exist within patients and professionals and centre on lack of knowledge or poor attitudes towards pain and opioid analgesia. Education provided to healthcare professionals increases knowledge and improves attitudes but this does not necessarily translate into improvements in patient outcomes. However, targeted interventions that modify professional behaviour are effective. Educational interventions directed at patients result in improved patient outcomes, although the mechanisms by which these improvements occur are not yet clear.SummaryOverall, educational interventions directed at patients or professionals can result in significant but modest clinical benefit which is similar in magnitude to that achieved by some analgesics. Educational interventions should be part of routine clinical practice alongside optimal oncological and analgesic management. Further work is needed on how best to implement multicomponent interventions within clinical services, including the identification of which combinations are most cost effective.

Related Topics

        loading  Loading Related Articles