Adequacy of Pain Control in Patients With Advanced Cancer in Pakistan

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Hassan Majeed ◽  
Ramsha Nadeem ◽  
Muhammad Abbas Khokhar ◽  
Muhammad Nawaz Qaisar

Purpose: Pain is highly prevalent in advanced cancer and requires aggressive management. However, pain management in cancer is minimally investigated in Pakistan. This cross-sectional study explores the adequacy of pain management in patients with advanced stage cancer in Pakistan. Method: From January 2017 to May 2017, a cross-sectional study was conducted at Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. A total of 218 patients with cancers were interviewed, and 136 patients with pain ≥5 on a Numerical Rating Scale for pain were included in the study. Demographic of patients and clinical characteristics of tumors were also evaluated. Results: Only about one-third of the patients with advanced cancer reported adequate pain management. Chi-square test, χ2 (1, n = 136) = 33.038, P < .05, indicated that pain scores were inversely associated with pain control; inadequate pain control was observed in patients with higher pain score and vice versa. Of the 55.88% of patients who were prescribed morphine, only 6 patients were compliant with treatment recommendations. Most patients were prescribed nonopioid medications and tramadol and codeine, which are weak opioid medications. Conclusion: The rate of undertreatment of cancer pain in Pakistan is alarming. Inadequate clinicians’ training, patients’ and caregivers’ beliefs, lack of availability of opioid medications, and socioeconomic factors are some of the barriers to effective pain control. A multidisciplinary team approach is necessary to follow the World Health Organization pain ladder guidelines for the treatment of cancer pain.

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoki Sakakibara ◽  
Hiroko Komatsu ◽  
Mikako Takahashi ◽  
Hideko Yamauchi ◽  
Teruo Yamauchi ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emília Pinto ◽  
Teresa Schwalbach ◽  
Ferraz Gonçalves ◽  
Jahit Sacarlal ◽  
Luisa Castro ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Palliative Care (PC) needs have been increasing in low- and middle-income countries. The education of its contents avoids the patients and families´ suffering and therapeutic futility. Aim: to assess the pain and palliative care´s knowledge in Mozambican medical students of the fifth and sixth years. Methods: A cross–sectional study was conducted between August 2018 and July 2019. Data was collected by applying a self-administered survey directed to students from 2 medical schools in Mozambique. Comparison of answer’s frequencies between hospitals was performed using chi-square and Fisher’s exact test. Results: From the 146 participants, 52.7% were female and the median age was 24 years old. Regarding general knowledge: 90.1% think they need to improve their knowledge on pain management, 50.3% of the participants did not know the palliative care World Health Organization´s (WHO) definition. Concerning to therapeutic approach, 36.4% did not have knowledge in control of symptoms, 43.7% did not know the WHO pain management scale, 65.3% did not know how to initiate analgesia for cancer pain. There are significant differences between universities in training related to medical posture on communication to bad news to patients and family as well as training in terminally ill patients. Conclusion: Results show that students from these 2 medical schools have gaps in pain and palliative care knowledge. There is a need to introduce palliative care education in medical training in Mozambique.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solomon Hambisa ◽  
Rediet Feleke ◽  
Ameha Zewudie ◽  
Mohammed Yimam

Background:: Rational drug use comprises aspects of prescribing, dispensing and patient use of medicines for different health problems. This study is aimed to assess drug prescribing practice based on the world health organization prescribing indicators in Mizan-Tepi University teaching hospital. Methods:: An institutional based retrospective cross sectional study was conducted to evaluate prescribing practices in Mizan-Tepi University teaching hospital. Data were collected based on World health organization drug use indicators using prescription papers. 600 prescriptions dispensed through the general outpatient pharmacy of the hospital were collected by systematic random sampling method from prescriptions written for a 1-year time in Mizan-Tepi University teaching hospital. Results:: The present study found that the average number of drugs per prescription was 2.04 ± 0.87 in Mizan-Tepi University teaching hospital with a range between 1 and 5. Prescribing by generic name was 97.6 % and 47.8% of prescriptions contained antibiotics in the hospital. 27.7% of prescriptions contained at least one injectable medication in Mizan-Tepi University teaching hospital. From prescribed drugs, 96.7% of them were prescribed from Ethiopian essential drug list. Conclusion:: Present study indicated that the average number of drugs prescribed per encounter, the percentage of generic prescribing and prescribing from the EDL were close to optimal value. However, the percentage of encounters with antibiotics and injections prescribed were found be very high. Thus, the study highlights some improvements in prescribing habits, particularly by focusing on the inappropriate consumption of antibiotics and injections.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Owono Etoundi ◽  
Junette Arlette Metogo Mbengono ◽  
Ferdinand Ndom Ntock ◽  
Joel Noutakdie Tochie ◽  
Dominique Christelle Anaba Ndom ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 102705
Author(s):  
Zeinab Kia ◽  
Maryam Allahbakhshian ◽  
Mahnaz Ilkhani ◽  
Malihe Nasiri ◽  
Atefeh Allahbakhshian

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 2333794X2199915
Author(s):  
Haymanot Mezmur ◽  
Nega Assefa ◽  
Tadesse Alemayehu

Background: According to the World Health Organization, teenage pregnancies are high-risk due to increased risks of fetal and infant morbidity and mortality. This study compares adverse fetal outcomes between teen and adult pregnant women from rural Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among women visiting maternity units from surrounding rural areas. A total of 481 teenagers (13-19 years old) and 481 adults (20-34 years old) women with a singleton pregnancy were included in the study. Two hospitals and 3 health centers were selected in Eastern Hararghe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia. Comparative analysis was carried out using the log-binomial regression model to identify factors associated with adverse fetal outcomes in both categories. The results are reported in adjusted prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Results: High proportion of adverse fetal outcome was observed among teenage women than adult (34.9% vs 21%). Statistically significant difference ( P < .05) in the proportion of low birth weight (21.1% vs 9.3%), preterm birth (18.7% vs 10.6%), APGAR score at 5th minute (9.3% vs 4%) were found in teenagers compared to adult women. Antenatal care attendance (APR = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.23, 0.86); eclampsia (APR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.26, 3.06); pre-eclampsia (APR = 1.73; 95% CI: 1.12, 2.67); and wealth index (rich) (APR = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.32, 0.94) were significantly associated with adverse fetal outcomes among the teenage women. Whereas intimate partner violence (APR = 2.22; 95% CI: 1.26, 3.90); preeclampsia (APR = 3.05; 95% CI: 1.61, 5.69); antepartum hemorrhage (APR = 2.77; 95% CI: 1.73, 4.46); and hyperemesis gravderm (APR = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.09, 2.79) were significantly associated with adverse fatal outcomes among the adult women. Conclusion: teenage pregnancy is associated with a high rate of adverse fetal outcomes. Early identification and treatment of problems during antenatal follow-up should be the mainstay to avert the massive adverse fetal effects.


The Lancet ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 398 ◽  
pp. S11
Author(s):  
Mohammad N Alswerki ◽  
Abdallah Alwali ◽  
Alaa Al-aqad ◽  
Mahmoud Hamouda ◽  
Saad Al massri ◽  
...  

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