Background: No study has so far addressed whether differences do exist in the management of cancer-related pain in patients admitted to oncology and non-oncology settings.
Patients and methods: A multicentre cross-sectional study in 48 Italian hospitals has enrolled 819 patients receiving analgesic therapy for cancer-related pain. Demographics and clinical and analgesic therapy information have been prospectively collected by standardized forms. Adequacy of pain management has been evaluated by the Pain Management Index (PMI).
Results: Differences in the analgesic drug administration according to settings of care have been evident, non-opioids more frequently being administered in non-oncology units (19.6% versus 7.0%; P < 0.0001), while strong opioids are more frequently used in the oncology units (69.5% versus 51.9%; P < 0.0001). The number of patients receiving inadequate therapy (PMI < 0) has lowered in oncology compared with non-oncology units (11.3% versus 18.8%; P = 0.0024). Results of multiple logistic regression analysis have shown that the admission to non-oncology setting [odds ratio (OR) = 1.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.15-2.67; P = 0.0096] and the absence of metastatic disease (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.04-2.44; P = 0.0317) were independent factors associated with an increased risk of receiving an inadequate analgesic therapy.
Conclusion: Oncology wards provide the most adequate standard of analgesic therapy for cancer-related pain.