BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pain is a frequent cancer symptom, however most of the times pharmacists of the hospital pharmacy, due to the huge bureaucratic tasks that depart them from patients, have not significantly contributed in assisting cancer pain patients. This study aimed at proposing the insertion of pharmacists in the cancer pain control team aiming at the rational use of drugs at and monitoring patients' adverse reactions. CONTENTS: For effective pain control, implementation of analgesic measures and assessment of therapeutic efficacy, it is critical to adequately use the "Guide to Cancer Pain Management" of the World Health Organization (WHO), which establishes guidelines for controlling pain of most advanced cancer patients; it is also fundamental to report patients' painful experience to health professionals. CONCLUSION: Pain measurement scales added to WHO's recommended protocol have been shown to be a critical tool for the rational use of drugs. Pharmacists, in addition to performing their daily activities, are qualified to interact in multidisciplinary teams helping controlling cancer patients' pain, by evaluating the compliance with this WHO protocol to control pain.
Analgesic ladder; Cancer pain; Palliative care; Pain measurement; Pharmacist
