@article {KOIVU6581, author = {LIISA KOIVU and TUUKKA P{\"O}L{\"O}NEN and TEIJA STORMI and EEVA SALMINEN}, title = {End-of-Life Pain Medication among Cancer Patients in Hospice Settings}, volume = {34}, number = {11}, pages = {6581--6584}, year = {2014}, publisher = {International Institute of Anticancer Research}, abstract = {Cancer pain management in a hospice setting was studied in the present article. Drug treatments were studied at five time points: at the time of transfer to hospice, at 2nd day, two weeks, and two months following transfer to hospice care, as well as one day before death. Patients and Methods: Records of 138 consecutive cancer patients treated in hospice in 2010 were studied regarding the drugs given during their stay. The most common cancer was gastro-intestinal cancer (33\%), followed by lung (16\%) and breast cancer (11\%). Data were collected from patients{\textquoteright} records and coded in a validated manner for statistical analysis. Results: The median length of stay in hospice was 14 days (range=2-376 days). Upon transfer, 63\% of patients were administered regularly-dosed opioids, 76.8\% during the second day at hospice, and 89.9\% of the patients received opioids one day prior to death. A significant change was observed in the more frequent subcutaneous administration during hospice stay (p\<0.0001). Break-through pain was recorded on the second day in hospice by 52 \% of patients, and by 76\% on the day prior to death. Conclusion: Individual patients{\textquoteright} needs determined the dose range, but this was not the case for administration route of strong opioids during hospice care.}, issn = {0250-7005}, URL = {https://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/34/11/6581}, eprint = {https://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/34/11/6581.full.pdf}, journal = {Anticancer Research} }