Open AccessPain Control in Head and Neck Cancer
Author(s) -
Motassim Alroosan,
Afaf Alroosan
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
otorhinolaryngology clinics : an international journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.107
H-Index - 5
eISSN - 0975-6957
pISSN - 0975-444X
DOI - 10.5005/jp-journals-10003-1059
Subject(s) - medicine , head and neck cancer , disease , analgesic , physical therapy , cancer pain , cancer , neck pain , anesthesia , alternative medicine , pathology
Objective To describe the treatment of head and neck cancer pain in KHMC and to evaluate the predictive factors for inadequate management between April 2007 and March 2010. Subjects Twenty-five patients with head and neck cancer. Main measures Patients rated prevalence and severity of pain and functional impairment related to pain. Doctors reported patients’ cancer characteristic, performance status, pain severity, and analgesic drugs ordered. Results 57% (14/25) of patients with cancer reported pain due to their disease, and, of those with pain, 69% (9/13) rated their worst pain at a level that impaired their ability to function. 30% (5/12) were reported as receiving no drugs for their pain. Of the 18 patients in pain for whom information on treatment was available 51% (41/18) were not receiving adequate pain reliefs, according to an index based on the World Health Organization's guidelines. Doctors were found to underestimate the severity of their patients’ pain. Younger patients, patients without metastasis disease, patients with a better performance status, and patients who rated their pain as more severe than their doctors did were at greater risk for under treatment of their pain. Conclusion In the light of the high prevalence and the severity of pain among patients with head and neck cancer, the assessment and treatment of cancer pain was inadequate, emphasizing the need for changes in patient care.