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Table 3 Attitudes and experiences concerning pain, the prescription of opioids and consultation

From: The use of opioids at the end of life: the knowledge level of Dutch physicians as a potential barrier to effective pain management

 

General practitioners

Elderly care physicians

Clinical specialists

p-value*

Total

 

n = 182

n = 110

n = 112

 

n = 406†

 

% agree

% agree

% agree

 

% agree

Pain

     

• In case of a change in pain symptomatology, I always take a comprehensive pain history

74

64

73

≥0.05

70

• In practice I find good pain control complex

60

56

65

≥0.05

60

• With the current medical possibilities, pain is always controllable

21

26

29

≥0.05

24

• When a patient is in pain, he/she will always indicate this

16

8

17

≥0.05

14

Prescribing opioids

     

• When prescribing opioids, I always prescribe a maintenance dosage plus a dosage to be used when needed (break-through medication)

90

68

84

≥0.05

80

• Nursing/care staff are reluctant to administer the opioids I prescribe

4

4

10

≥0.05

6

• I try to delay the prescription of opioids for as long as possible

4

9

7

≥0.05

6

Consultation

     

• Inadequate support from the pharmacist, hampers pain management

7

8

3

≥0.05

6

• Asking for consultation feels like personal defeat

2

2

4

≥0.05

2

 

% yes

% yes

% yes

 

% yes

Laxative and anti-emetic

     

• As a general rule, I combine the prescription of an opioid with a laxative

94

69

76

<0.05

83

• As a general rule, I combine the prescription of an opioid with an anti-emetic

8

2

13

≥0.05

8

  1. * chi-square test testing differences between the three groups of physicians
  2. †including 2 physicians who did not specify their specialty