Comment on Prescription of Narcotic Analgesics in Patients with Cancer Pain / 医药导报

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate current status of narcotic analgesic use in patients with cancer pain in our hospital, in order to promote the rationalization of prescribing narcotic drugs and the rational use of analgesics. Methods A total of 400 narcotic prescriptions ( 100 of outpatients and 300 of inpatients ) in Tongji hospital were randomly selected from March to May in 2014.Basic index and consumption of anesthetic drugs, money consumption distribution on different tumor types, and unreasonable prescription were analyzed. Results The overall prevalence of irrational prescriptions was 11. 00%, with 13.00% from inpatient and 10. 33% from outpatient, respectively. Reasons for irrational prescriptions mainly included vague instructions on dosage and administration, incomplete clinical diagnosis, lack of pharmacist check and inappropriate dosage. In the basic indexes, proportions of reasonable prescription and drugs within the national formulary were higher in the inpatient than in the outpatient service.The average money consumption of outpatient prescription was significantly higher than that of inpatient prescription.Most types of diagnosis were lung cancer in outpatient and inpatient departments, and total cost of lung cancer drugs was the highest.Morphine hydrochloride of outpatient had the highest average consumption, followed by codeine phosphate of the outpatient and the inpatient, and oxycodone hydrochloride controlled-release tablets cost more in inpatient. Conclusion The narcotic analgesic used in our hospital is basically rational. Most doctors prescribe according to the guidelines, but standardized training of prescription for cancer patients with pain medication needs to be strengthened, and supervision of narcotic analgesic medication should be enhanced.