The knowledge and attitudes of surgical staff towards the use of opioids in cancer pain management: can the Hospital Palliative Care Team make a difference?

The principles of cancer pain management are well established, but evidence suggests that these are not incorporated into daily practice and patients are still in pain. Deficiencies in knowledge and inappropriate attitudes to wards the use of opioids may partially explain why the management of cancer pain is still such a widespread problem. This study assessed the knowledge and attitudes of 135 nursing and medical staff working in a surgical unit, before and after working with a newly established Hospital Palliative Care Team. The baseline survey highlighted the existence of a number of myths a nd misconceptions in relation to opioid use. Results of the follow-up surve y indicated that the knowledge and attitudes of doctors and nurses had impr oved after working with the team, but that this probably occurred as a resu lt of good working relationships and case discussions rather than through f ormal teaching. The study provided a useful method of identifying deficienc ies in knowledge and attitude among staff, and helped to raise awareness of the problem of cancer pain management. Our challenge now is to work with s taff to ensure that positive changes in knowledge and attitudes are transla ted into the everyday practice of hospital nurses and doctors caring for pa tients with cancer.