Defining refractory pain in cancer for clinicians and researchers
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Date
2012-01-23
Authors
Currow, David Christopher
Spruyt, Odette
Hardy, Janet
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
Rights
Rights Holder
© Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
Abstract
Managing pain in people with cancer remains a challenge,
especially in those referred to as having refractory pain. But
what is refractory or intractable pain? Until there is a standard
definition there is the risk that: a) clinically, new medications
are continuously added, each with diminishing returns
in reducing pain, and each with an increasing likelihood of
toxicity as the only noticeable change; and b) in research, there
will be differing baselines for the operational definition of refractory,
making it difficult to adopt the findings into practice,
or to compare clinical trials in any systematic way.
Description
Keywords
Palliative care, Cancer research, Cancer treatment
Citation
Currow, D.C., Spruyt, O. and Hardy, J., 2012. Defining refractory pain in cancer for clinicians and researchers. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 15(1), 5-6.