ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICIANS' KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARDS PAIN MANAGEMENT IN CANCER PATIENTS

Aim: Pain is the most common symptom for which patients seeks help and can reflect either physical or emotional discomfort. Therefore; the aim of this study is to assess physician attitude and knowledge about pain management in cancer patients and the most common barrier for optimal cancer pain management. Methods: This is a cross sectional descriptive hospital based study; it included Physicians working in Radio and Isotopes Centre Khartoum (RICK), Sudan. The data was collected using questionnaire in the period between March and May, 2012. Results: This study revealed that most physicians showed negative attitude toward optimal analgesic use in cancer patients; more than half of physicians (66.7%)thought that patients will depend on drugs if it is prescribed as their wishes. (60%) of the physicians fearing from drug addiction. Also ( 76%) did not know that opioid have no ceiling effect and can be increased without restriction.(65 %) of the physicians did not know that one sixth of total daily dosage of opioids can be used for breakthrough pain additionally. This study also revealed that about (62 %) of the physicians did not heard or even heard but not used WHO analgesic ladder for the management of cancer patients. Conclusion: An educational policy to provide support for the training of health-care professionals, volunteers and the public, and the development of the undergraduate medical curriculum in palliative care at the school of medicine is necessary. The pharmacists must become more integral members of palliative care teams because they provide more information about drugs using in pain management. Key words: Cancer, pain management, Analgesics, opioids and palliative care