Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41807853›Full record

ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2026

Breakthrough cancer pain management (BTcP)-gap analysis of the current Australian landscape.

Wei Lee, Ahmed Nagla, Aaron Bak Ong Wong, Linda Magann, Melanie Lovell, Edward Mantle, Kate Reed, Ghauri Aggarwal, Aaron K Wong, Chris Pene and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

13 authors.

Wei LeeUniversity of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia. Wei.lee@sydney.edu.au.
Ahmed NaglaPeter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Aaron Bak Ong WongEastern Health, Wantirna, VIC, Australia.
Linda MagannSt George Hospital, Kogarah, NSW, Australia.
Melanie LovellUniversity of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
Edward MantleGold Coast University Hospital, Southport, QLD, Australia.
Kate ReedCanberra Hospital, Australian Capital Territory, Garran, Australia.
Ghauri AggarwalUniversity of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
Aaron K WongSir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Chris PeneSt Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia.
Peter Allcroft, Southern Adelaide Palliative Services, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia.
Gregory B CrawfordSchool of Medicine, College of Health, Adelaide University, Adelaide, Australia.
Natasha MichaelInstitute of Health Research, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, WA, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeBreakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) is an evolving clinical challenge, with limited guideline-specific direction. This study aimed to identify gaps in breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) diagnosis and management in Australia and propose practical, evidence-informed actions to improve assessment, prescribing and equitable access to effective analgesia.

methodsA gap analysis was conducted between September 2023 and September 2024, using three hybrid roundtable meetings involving 13 medical and nursing clinicians and researchers. Participants were selected for expertise in BTcP, including rapid-onset opioids (ROOs) policy development, BTcP research and education. A targeted review of the literature and guidelines framed the discussions. Meetings were recorded, transcribed and iteratively member-checked; thematic synthesis identified key gaps and potential solutions.

resultsFive interrelated gaps were identified: (1) inconsistent definitions of BTcP undermining case identification and research comparability; (2) assessment and measurement gaps with uptake of validated tools limited by perceived respondent burden and clinical utility; (3) heterogeneous approach to BTcP with limited comparative evidence guiding ROOs versus immediate-release opioid use and dosing strategies; (4) implementation and systems barriers including workflow, prescribing complexity and clinician training needs; (5) equity in opioid supply and restricted access to vulnerable populations. Recommended actions include Delphi consensus on definition, development and validation of subtype-sensitive assessment tools, pragmatic comparative effectiveness and implementation studies, co-designed prescribing templates and stakeholder engagement to address supply chain and regulatory barriers.

conclusionsSequential, coordinated efforts-consensus building, measurement development, targeted research, co-designed implementation supports and supply chain planning-are required to advance equitable, evidence-based BTcP care in Australia.

Indexed as

Analgesics, OpioidBreakthrough PainCancer PainPain ManagementAustraliaHumansPractice Guidelines as TopicPractice Patterns, Physicians'Analgesics, OpioidBreakthrough cancer painCancer painOpioidsPain managementPalliative careResearch gaps

Identifiers

PMID41807853
PMCPMC12975851

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Registered trials

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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.