BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pain is a consequence of cancer generating distress and decreased quality of life. It is a poorly managed and neglected symptom by physicians and other health professionals worldwide. Effective pain management is everyone's duty and a patient's right. This study aimed at describing pain control in patients admitted to the Clinical Oncology Ward. METHODS: This is a prospective cross-sectional study carried out from May 2010 to October 2011. RESULTS: Participated in the study 150 patients, being 65.3% females and 81% aged above 40 years. Most common tumors were cervical cancer (15.3%) and advanced disease (80.6%). Pain was classified as visceral for most patients (46.7%). Common analgesics (90.7%), strong opioids (51.3%), palliative sedation (4%) and non-pharmacological therapy (34.1%) were used to control pain. There has been a high number of patients with uncontrolled pain at admission (70%) and with adequate control in the last day (84%). Neuropathic pain was more frequent among patients above 60 years of age where there has also been less control. CONCLUSION: There has been a higher prevalence of female patients with cervical cancer and with more advanced disease. Most frequent pain was nociceptive and visceral, however neuropathic pain was the most difficult to control. The conclusion was that there has been adequate pain control in patients admitted to the cancer ward.
Analgesia; Pain; Pain measurement; Therapy
