Have We Improved Pain Control in Cancer Patients? A Multicenter Study of Ambulatory and Hospitalized Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: Pain in cancer patients is recognized as a major health problem, yet few studies of both inpatient and outpatient populations have been carried out. OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to assess the frequency, type, and characteristics of pain in adult cancer patients, including both inpatients and outpatients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 1064 adult cancer patients (437 outpatients and 627 inpatients) from 44 hospitals and/or long-term-care centers in Catalonia, Spain. Cancer patients suffering from pain of any etiology for ≥2 weeks and/or under analgesic treatment ≥2 weeks were enrolled. Demographic and pain data were collected. The Spanish version of the Brief Pain Inventory was used to assess pain. RESULTS: Pain frequency was 55.3%. Pain was less frequent in outpatients than inpatients (41.6% versus 64.7%; p<0.001), although median pain duration was longer in outpatients (20 versus 6 weeks; p<0.001). Pain was assessable in 333 patients, and intensity was similar in both out- and inpatients; however, outpatients reported less improvement, less pain interference with daily life, and less pain related to the cancer per se. In both groups, patients with multiple myeloma (73%), breast (65%), and lung cancer (61%) were most likely to report pain. CONCLUSIONS: Pain in cancer patients, both ambulatory and hospitalized, remains a challenge for health care professionals, health administrators, and stakeholders. Our study reveals the high level of pain and distress that cancer patients continue to suffer, a problem that is particularly notable in outpatients due to the intensity and duration of the pain.

1ª Reunión Nacional de Trabajo Multidisciplinar en Oncogeriatría: documento de consenso / 1st National Meeting of Multidisciplinary Work in Oncogeriatrics: Expert Consensus Document

El pasado día 2 de junio de 2011 el Institut Català d’Oncologia l’Hospitalet-Hospital Duran i Reynals acogió la primera Reunión de Trabajo Multidisciplinar en Oncogeriatría. La idea de la reunión, iniciativa de las Sociedades Médicas de Oncología Radioterápica, Geriatría y Gerontología, Cuidados Paliativos y Oncología Médica, fue la de iniciar una línea de trabajo conjunta entre las diferentes especialidades que intervienen habitualmente en el manejo del paciente de edad avanzada con patología oncológica. En este documento se recoge un resumen de los temas tratados(AU)

On 2nd of June 2011 the Institut Català d’ Oncologia l’Hospitalet--Hospital Duran i Reynals hosted the first Meeting of Multidisciplinary Work in Oncogeriatrics. The reason for the meeting, which follows on from an initiative of the Medical Societies of Radiotherapy, Oncology, Geriatrics and Gerontology and Palliative Care and Medical Oncology, was to initiate a joint line of work among the different specialties that generally take part in the handling of the elderly patient suffering from oncologic pathologies. This document summarises the different subjects covered during the Meeting(AU)

[1st National Meeting of Multidisciplinary Work in Oncogeriatrics: expert consensus document]. / 1.(a) Reunión Nacional de Trabajo Multidisciplinar en Oncogeriatría: documento de consenso.

On 2nd of June 2011 the Institut Català d' Oncologia l'Hospitalet--Hospital Duran i Reynals hosted the first Meeting of Multidisciplinary Work in Oncogeriatrics. The reason for the meeting, which follows on from an initiative of the Medical Societies of Radiotherapy, Oncology, Geriatrics and Gerontology and Palliative Care and Medical Oncology, was to initiate a joint line of work among the different specialties that generally take part in the handling of the elderly patient suffering from oncologic pathologies. This document summarises the different subjects covered during the Meeting.