Objective To evaluate clinical pharmacist-led pain-medication education in patients with cancer.
Methods A controlled study was conducted prospectively at six tertiary hospitals in China. In-patients with cancer were randomized to receive conventional treatment plus medication education or no education (controls). Education consisted of access to information booklets and eight 30-min face-to-face counselling sessions given by clinical pharmacists over 4 weeks. Patients completed pain- and analgesic-knowledge assessments and a Brief Pain Inventory, pre- and post-study.
Results A total of 123 and 114 patients in the education and control groups, respectively, completed follow-up. At the end of the study, patient knowledge regarding cancer pain and pain control was significantly increased in both groups; pain and analgesic knowledge scores were significantly higher in the education group compared with controls. In the control group, the increase in total pain-related knowledge was significantly greater in analgesic-naive patients compared with those who were using/had used analgesics. Pain intensity scores and pain interference of daily activities were significantly reduced in the education group compared with controls.
Conclusions Clinical pharmacist-led medication education resulted in improved pain control in patients with cancer.
[1]Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ, Peoples Hosp 6, Dept Pharm, Shanghai 201400, Peoples R China.
[2]Sun Yat Sen Univ, Ctr Canc, Dept Pharm, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, Peoples R China.
[3]Guangdong Gen Hosp, Dept Pharm, Guangzhou, Guangdong, Peoples R China.
[4]Sun Yat Sen Univ, Sun Yat Sen Mem Hosp, Dept Pharm, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, Peoples R China.
[5]Guangzhou Med Univ, Affiliated Hosp 2, Dept Pharm, Guangzhou, Guangdong, Peoples R China.
[6]Sun Yat Sen Univ, Affiliated Hosp 1, Dept Pharm, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, Peoples R China.
[7]Southern Med Univ, Zhujiang Hosp, Dept Pharm, Guangzhou, Guangdong, Peoples R China.
(8.0+极速模式)