Pain management in oncological patients: a Turkish perspective

There are some practical and conceptual differences between the university hospitals and state hospitals in Turkey. Both the lack of knowledge among health care workers and some cultural values influence management of pain in cancer patients. Hopefully, in accordance with the development in many fields, nursing has also taken its part in the overall improvement in our country. The subject of pain control is included in the training programs of nursing schools that are giving education at the university level. Moreover, the Turkish Oncology Nurses Association is planning in-service education dealing with pain control of cancer patients.