Efectiveness in treating pain and associated symptoms in cancer patients from Osijek region

Provođenje palijativne skrbi i potpornoga liječenja oboljelih od raka u domu bolesnika pridonosi poboljšavanju kvalitete života oboljelih. Cilj je istraživanja utvrditi zastupljenost i jačinu bolova i drugih popratnih simptoma kod osoba oboljelih od raka koje se liječe u svome domu, zastupljenost primijenjene medicinske terapije za suzbijanje bolova i popratnih simptoma te uspješnost liječenja. Anketni upitnik su provele patronažne medicinske sestre na 51 ispitaniku u osječkoj regiji. Zastupljenost umjerene i jake boli bila je prisutna kod 20 (39,22%), odnosno devet (17,65%) ispitanika. Unatoč odgovarajućoj primjeni opijata, potpuni prestanka umjerenih bolova nastupio je kod osam (42,11%) ispitanika, a potpuni prestanak jakih bolova nastupio je kod jednoga ispitanika. Osamnaest (35,29%) ispitanika imalo je mučninu, 17 (33,33 %) anoreksiju, 10 (19,61%) kaheksiju i sedam (13,73%) povraćanje. Terapiju protiv mučnine nisu uzimala 33,33% ispitanika, terapiju protiv povraćanja nisu uzimala 42,86% ispitanika, terapiju za liječenje anoreksije nije uzimalo 47,06% ispitanika i za liječenje kaheksije terapiju nije uzimalo 90% ispitanika. Integracijom palijativne skrbi u primarnu zdravstvenu zaštitu postiglo bi se poboljšanje kvalitete života osoba oboljelih od raka kod kojih nije došlo do izlječenja.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