[Pain management in home hospice care]

Among 35 cases with terminal home care cancer patients, 23 (65.7%) cases developed pain. Twenty of these cases (87%) were treated with morphine. MS-contin and Anpec (suppositorium) were given to the patients. The two forms were jointly administered in 20% of them. NSAIDS and other adjuvant analgesics were given to 85% of them. Average dose of morphine were 173.5 +/- 357.5 mg. Adverse morphine side effects were treated with medication. In any case morphine administration was not discontinued due to its adverse effects. Some 82% of the patients died at home. No case dropped out of home care due to unsuccessful pain management. Successful pain management is necessary to implement home terminal care, and both patient and family should fully understand the status and prognosis of the incurable disease. Moreover, medical professionals (home care doctors, home care nurses and hospital doctors) should collaborate to form the temporal, adequate and seamless networking in caring and supporting terminal patients and their families.