ATTITUDES OF SWISS PHYSICIANS IN PRESCRIBING OPIATES FOR CANCER PAIN

Following clinical observations showing that opiates are sometimes not consistently administered for chronic cancer pain, a survey was condu cted among 1200 physicians in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. Their opium-prescribing habits were assessed by means of a postal que stionnaire. The results indicate that, among the majority of physician s completing the questionnaire, established guidelines and basic princ iples of pain control with opiates in cancer patients are largely unde rstood. Oral morphine is chosen by 89% to initiate treatment of chroni c cancer pain, and the correct use of slow-release morphine is known t o 87% of the responding physicians. Unfortunately, an important minori ty of physicians does not follow established guidelines in the treatme nt of cancer pain, and up to 20% still feel that the danger of addicti on, respiratory depression and other side-effects are important reason s for withholding opiates in this patient population. The results and their implications are discussed and compared with the current literat ure on cancer pain management.