Dexamethasone prescribing for cancer pain between palliative care and radiation oncology

Dexamethasone is a commonly prescribed corticosteroid by both palliative care physicians and radiation oncologists for the treatment of metastatic cancer pain. However, clinical evidence for dexamethasone dose and efficacy is lacking, and prescribing between these different specialties may be influenced by other factors. This study investigates the dexamethasone prescriptions of palliative care physicians and radiation oncologists for cancer pain and their prescription rationales.

Palliative care physicians and radiation oncologists in British Columbia, Canada, were surveyed on their preferred dexamethasone prescription in response to 4 case vignettes of patients with metastatic cancer and asked to choose a rationale from a list of options which were then categorized as "habit-based," "results-based," or "evidence-based." Response frequencies between the specialties were compared with odds ratios.

The total daily dose and duration of dexamethasone prescriptions were similar between the specialties. Palliative care physicians were significantly more likely than radiation oncologists to prescribe a single daily dose of dexamethasone rather than a divided dose (OR 3.3 [95% CI 2.0-5.5]). This significant difference persisted when separately analyzing results at different total daily doses. Both specialties were more likely to select habit-based rationales rather than evidence-based rationales, with no significant difference between specialties.

These findings show that dexamethasone prescriptions are habit-based and that prescribing habits are different between palliative care physicians and radiation oncologists. Interventions based on these findings could potentially prevent unequal patient care. Further qualitative investigations of physician perceptions are indicated to better understand habit-based corticosteroid prescribing patterns.