The knowledge and attitudes of cancer pain management of residents and nurses in university hospital in Daegu city, Korea

Abstract

20701 Background: Pain is the most feared symptom in cancer patient. In general, pain is under-treated. Barriers to effective pain management of health care professionals includes inadequate training in pain management, poor assessment of pain, concern about side effect management, fear of addiction, low priority given to pain treatment, and inadequate reimbursement. The importance of education in improving treatment of pain is well recognized. Methods: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the knowledge and attitude of cancer pain management of residents and nurses in University hospital in Daegu city, and the Korean medical oncologists. A total of 48 residents and 51 registered nurses in Dongsan Medical Center, Keimyung University in Daegu and 183 nationwide medical oncologists were surveyed. Self-administered questionnaire covered 2 domains of 40 items; knowledge of general principles of cancer pain management and opioid use, were used. Results: With compare to medical oncologists, resident and nurses had statistically significant mis-knowledge in 5 items in general principles of cancer pain management (effective cancer pain management rate, VAS, the 5th vital sign, character of neuropathic pain, WHO ladder step) and 7 items about opioid use (addiction, tolerance, efficacy of strong opioids, knowledge about opioids, education rate, efficacy of parenteral opioids, ceiling effect). With compare to resident, nurses had statistically significant mis-knowledge in 4 items in general principles of cancer pain management (effective cancer pain management rate, poor assessment of health care professionals, VAS, WHO ladder step) and 14 items about opioid use (addiction, tolerance, effect on survival, opioid use to herself, incidence of side effect, knowledge about opioids, education rate, efficacy of parenteral opioids, patients’ refusal rate, seriousness of side effects, treatment of tolerance, by the clock, ceiling effect, reserves of opioid for intractable pain). Conclusions: The knowledge of cancer pain management of residents and especially nurses should be improved. No significant financial relationships to disclose.