Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33536013›Full record

ArticleBMC palliative care2021

The pattern of change in opioid and adjuvant prescriptions for cancer pain before and after referral to a comprehensive program in the Palliative Care Center in Kuwait.

Ameena Mohammed Al-Ansari, Wafaa Mostafa Abd-El-Gawad, Sobhi Mostafa AboSerea, Eman El Sayed ElShereafy, Fatma Abdel Shakor Ali, Mohammed Abd Elaziz ElSayed

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC palliative care, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
1.7field-weighted citation impact, top 16% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Relationship between prescribed opioids, pain management satisfaction, and pain intensity in oncology outpatients.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2022
    Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Ameena Mohammed Al-AnsariPalliative Care Center, Al-Sabah Medical Area, Al-Shuwaikh, Kuwait.
Wafaa Mostafa Abd-El-GawadGeriatrics and Gerontology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Al- Abbaseya, Cairo, Egypt. wafaager@hotmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7790-6917
Sobhi Mostafa AboSereaPalliative Care Center, Al-Sabah Medical Area, Al-Shuwaikh, Kuwait.
Eman El Sayed ElShereafyPalliative Care Center, Al-Sabah Medical Area, Al-Shuwaikh, Kuwait.
Fatma Abdel Shakor AliPalliative Care Center, Al-Sabah Medical Area, Al-Shuwaikh, Kuwait.
Mohammed Abd Elaziz ElSayedPalliative Care Center, Al-Sabah Medical Area, Al-Shuwaikh, Kuwait.
Al-Sabah Hospital · KWAin Shams University · EG

Funding

Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences P116-13MC-01
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCancer-related pain is a complicated symptom that often coincides with fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Although many safe treatments are available, inadequate control of Cancer-related pain continues to lead to suffering in cancer patients. This study's aim is to describe pain control, and the pattern of change in opioid and adjuvant medication prescriptions, before and after referral to the Palliative Care Center.

methodsWe conducted a prospective cohort study in adult cancer patients the Palliative Care Center between January 1, 2016 and December 30, 2017. We measured pain intensity and other associated symptoms via the Revised Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS-r) and documented detailed analgesics and adjuvant medication history before starting any palliative care and on days 0, 3, 6, and 14.

resultsThe analysis included 240 patients whose cancer-related pain, anxiety, and depression scores meaningfully improved by day 6. The changes in the median (interquartile ranges) of Cancer-related pain, anxiety, and depression scores from day 0 to day 6 were: 6 (4-8) to 3 (1-4); 6 (4-9) to 2 (1-4); and 3 (2-6) to 2 (1-4), respectively, with p < 0.001 for all. Morphine was the most common opioid administered; the percentage using it increased from 20.4% (n = 49) before referral to 49.6% (n = 119) on day 6 (p < 0.001). The median morphine equivalent daily dose decreased from a median (interquartile ranges) of 60(31-93) mg/day before referral to 34(22-66) mg/day on day 6 (p < 0.001). There was also a statistically significant increase in the percentage of patients taking adjuvant medications, from 38.8% before referral to 84.2% on day 6 (p < 0.001). Comparing D0 to D6, the number of patients using Gabapentinoids significantly increased from 57(23.75%) to 79(32.9%) (p < 0.001), amitriptyline dramatically increased from 14 (5.8%) to 44 (18.3%) (p < 0.001), and other antidepressant drugs increased from 15 (6.2%) to 34 (14.1%) (p < 0.001).

conclusionAfter referral to the Palliative Care Center, patients' pain and other symptoms scores decreased significantly, even with lower median morphine equivalent daily doses, arguably through more appropriately directed opioid use. This is evidence for the effectiveness of the comprehensive program at the Palliative Care Center in Kuwait.

Indexed as

Cancer PainNeoplasmsAdultAnalgesics, OpioidHumansKuwaitPalliative CarePrescriptionsProspective StudiesReferral and ConsultationAnalgesics, OpioidAdjuvant medicationsAnxietyCancer-related painDepressionKuwaitMorphine equivalent daily doseOpioidsPalliative care center

Identifiers

PMID33536013
PMCPMC7860188
OpenAlexW3127171477

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.