Change in Cancer Pain Management in Korea Between 2001 and 2006: Results of Two Nationwide Surveys

Abstract

Context. In Korea, many health care professionals have shown increased concern about the management of cancer pain. Five years after a pain management guideline was distributed to Korean physicians, the Korean Society of Hospice and Palliative Care evaluated the change in cancer pain management. The period evaluated was between 2001 and 2006.Methods. We did a prospective, cross-sectional cancer pain survey on the change of the pain prevalence and pain intensity, its impact on daily activities and the adequacy of pain management between 2001 and 2006.Results. Overall, 7565 patients were enrolled from 72 cancer hospitals in the 2001 cancer pain survey and 7245 patients were enrolled from 63 cancer hospitals in the 2006 cancer pain survey. The overall prevalence of cancer pain and the percentage of patients reporting a negative pain management index were significantly decreased in the 2006 cancer pain survey compared with the 2001 cancer pain survey (44.9% vs. 52.1%, P < 0.0001 and 41.6% vs. 45.0%, respectively, P ¼ 0.0005). However, in 2006, physicians did not prescribe analgesics to 25.8% of the patients with severe pain and they did not adjust the prescribed analgesics properly in 47.4% of the patients with severe pain.Conclusion. Some improvement in cancer pain management was noted during the five years between 2001 and 2006. However, all of the physicians who care for

1512 A Korean nationwide survey for breakthrough cancer pain in an inpatient setting

“…This is a lower percentage than previously reported [12][13][14], although Hagen et al [15] reported that 28% of patients with cancer pain have BTcP. Nationwide surveys conducted in Korea between 2001 and 2006 reported BTcP incidence of 35% [12]. One explanation for the discrepancy may be different inclusion criteria.…”

The Effectiveness of a Self-Reporting Bedside Pain Assessment Tool for Oncology Inpatients

“…In a large-scale, prospective, cross-sectional cancer pain survey conducted in Korea between 2001 and 2006, the percentage of patients that reported a negative PMI was > 40%. 18 In the present study, we educated patients regarding the general principles of cancer pain and pain management on the first day of study participation, and as a result, almost all patients had a positive PMI 3 days after admission.…”

“…The Pain Management Index (PMI) was used to evaluate the adequacy of analgesic use. [14][15][16][17][18] Analgesic strength was categorized as 0 (no analgesic), 1 (nonopioid), 2 (weak opioid), or 3 (strong opioid). In addition, patient pain levels, based on the modified Brief Pain Inventory, were classified as follows: 0 (no pain = 0), 1 (mild pain = 1-3), 2 (moderate pain = 4-6), or 3 (severe pain = 7-10).…”

Physician’s Attitude toward Treating Breakthrough Cancer Pain in Korea

“…Korean guidelines for cancer pain management were first published in 2004, and are now available in the 6th edition, updated in 2015 (28). Even though some improvements in cancer pain management have been achieved with these updated guidelines, there is still insufficient information to properly define and manage BTcP using appropriate analgesics (29). In addition, in a Korean survey of physician knowledge about cancer pain guidelines, more than 40% of physicians answered incorrectly on items related to BTcP (23).…”