A survey of Control of Cancer Pain in two Hospices in Kathmandu, Nepal
Abstract
Introduction: Especially morphine are very useful and effective medicines to relieve cancer pain. Since the production of oral morphine in Nepal from 2009, more and more cancer patients have access to morphine for their pain. The data of 100 cancer patients in two hospices were analyzed to find out the incidence of pain and result of morphine use to relieve the pain.
Methods: A cross-sectional observational study of 100 advanced cancer patients from May to August 2012 was carried out with follow-up after a week in Thankot Hospice and Hospice Nepal. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain necessary information. Numerical Pain Rating scale was used to find out severity of pain. Oral Morphine was started with 5mg four hourly if patients is weak and has not previously taken any opiods. Those who are already taking opioids like codeine and tramadol oral Morphine 10 mg four hourly was started. Other analgesics were given as needed.
Result: At the time of admission all patients were suffering from pain out of which 39% had severe pain and 52% had moderate pain. Pain assessment followed by one week treatment revealed 6% (n=6) patients were free from pain and another6% (n=6) patients felt severe pain, 55% (n=55) felt mild pain, 33% (n=33) felt moderate pain. There was an overall reduction of severe pain by 33% and moderate pain by 19%.The mean pain score on the ten point scale reduced from 6.1 to 3.4.
Methods: A cross-sectional observational study of 100 advanced cancer patients from May to August 2012 was carried out with follow-up after a week in Thankot Hospice and Hospice Nepal. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain necessary information. Numerical Pain Rating scale was used to find out severity of pain. Oral Morphine was started with 5mg four hourly if patients is weak and has not previously taken any opiods. Those who are already taking opioids like codeine and tramadol oral Morphine 10 mg four hourly was started. Other analgesics were given as needed.
Result: At the time of admission all patients were suffering from pain out of which 39% had severe pain and 52% had moderate pain. Pain assessment followed by one week treatment revealed 6% (n=6) patients were free from pain and another6% (n=6) patients felt severe pain, 55% (n=55) felt mild pain, 33% (n=33) felt moderate pain. There was an overall reduction of severe pain by 33% and moderate pain by 19%.The mean pain score on the ten point scale reduced from 6.1 to 3.4.