Medicinski vjesnik, Vol. 42 No. (1-2), 2010.
Original scientific paper
Efectiveness in treating pain and associated symptoms in cancer patients from Osijek region
Vesna Brumnić
Zdravko Ebling
Katica Đeri
Nikola Čupić
Abstract
Implementation ot palliative care and supportive treatment for cancer patients treated at their homes contributes to improvement of patients’ quality life. The aim of the research is to determine the incidence and severity of pain and other accompanying symptoms in patients suffering from cancer who are being treated at their homes, the presence of applied medical therapies for suppressing the pain and other accompanying symptoms and the effectiveness of treatment. The questionnaire was carried out by public health nurses and has been conducted on 51 patients in Osijek region. The prevalence of moderate and severe pain is present in 20 (39,22%) and 9 (17,65%) respondents, respectively. Despite the appropriate dispense of opiates in Osijek region, the complete cessation of moderate pain occurred in 8 (42,11%) patients, and the complete cessation of severe pain occurred in one patient. 18 (35,29%) respondents had nausea, 17 (33,33%) anorexia, 10 (19,61%) cachexia and 7 (13,73%) vomiting. 33,33% of the subjects had not been receiving anti-nausea treatments and 42,86% had not been receiving treatment for vomiting, 47.06%) of them had not been receiving treatment for anorexia and 90% for cachexia. The quality of life in final stage cancer patients could be improved by integrating palliative care into primary health care.
Keywords
Palliative care — organization; Primary Health Care; Neoplasms; Pain; Anorexia; Cachexia; Nausea; Vomiting; Therapy
Hrčak ID:
191873
URI
Publication date:
1.12.2010.
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