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Supportive Care in Cancer

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01-11-2006 | Review Article

The WHO analgesic ladder for cancer pain control, twenty years of use. How much pain relief does one get from using it?

Authors: Karine Azevedo São Leão Ferreira, Miako Kimura, Manoel Jacobsen Teixeira

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 11/2006

Abstract

Introduction

Pain is a major problem in the treatment of patients with cancer. This article reviews studies concerning evaluation of patients with cancer pain treated according to The World Health Organization (WHO) analgesic ladder.

Materials and methods

Systematic search of PUBMED, MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, BDENF, and OVID and a hand search of reference lists and textbooks from 1982 to 2004 were performed.

Result

Analgesia was considered adequate in 45 to 100% of patients analyzed in the studies.

Conclusion

However, the evidence that they provide is insufficient to grant the effectiveness of the WHO guidelines because a controlled clinical trial of this intervention has never been published.

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Title: The WHO analgesic ladder for cancer pain control, twenty years of use. How much pain relief does one get from using it?
Authors: Karine Azevedo São Leão Ferreira
Miako Kimura
Manoel Jacobsen Teixeira
Publication date: 01-11-2006
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 11/2006
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-006-0086-x

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Abstract

Introduction

Materials and methods

Result

Conclusion

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