This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Brundage, D. M. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Cancer Pain Management in Adults: A Pharmacist's Perspective

Methodist Hospital/Park Nicollet Health Services, Minneapolis, Minnesota, brundd{at}parknicollet.com

Many patients with cancer will go on to develop significant pain. This article will focus on the assessment and the pharmacologic treatment of cancer pain in adults, along with patient education and safety from the viewpoint of the pharmacist. Treatment modalities not included in this review are radiation therapy and surgery (such as a cingulotomy). Extensive, comprehensive guidelines on all aspects of cancer pain management have been published and are available (see references). Cancer pain management is an interdisciplinary process because of its multifactorial nature; it should involve physicians, nurses, pharmacists, chaplains, social workers, physical therapists, and psychologists. Pharmacists play key roles in equalanalgesia calculations and transitioning patients from one opioid to another, making recommendations in therapy, developing safety mechanisms to protect patients from errors, and providing education to patients on medication.

Key Words: Assessment • equianalgesia • opioids • safety • education.

Journal of Pharmacy Practice, Vol. 16, No. 4, 284-290 (2003)
DOI: 10.1177/0897190003258501


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?