P0175 Patients’ perspectives on the current status of cancer pain management in Asia

Background ACHEON is the first and largest cross-sectional analysis conducted to determine the current practices of pain management across Asia. This survey included responses from patients suffering from cancer pain in 10 countries or regions (China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam). Methods Patients were ⩾18 years (>20 years for Korean and Taiwanese patients) with cancer pain in the last month. Patients were recruited by random selection from patient associations, patient referrals, online panels, hospital intercepts or doctor referrals. Patients were asked “yes” or “no” statements or questions with a five-point Likert scale ranging from “agree completely” to “disagree completely”. Findings 1190 cancer patients (32% male, 68% female) with a mean age of 54 years were included. Moderate-to-severe pain (median score 6 [IQR 3]) was reported by 86% of patients, while overall median duration of pain was 12 months (IQR 19). Although most patients (83%) were asked about pain by physicians at every visit, 49% of patients reported no scale was used for pain assessment. Opioid use was confirmed in 53% (285/538) of patients who remembered the type of pain medication prescribed. In all, 81% of patients claimed that pain affected their daily living (86%), and concentration and focus (87%). Furthermore, 78% of respondents were unemployed with 42% discontinuing work due to cancer pain. Among employed patients, 70% reported that pain affected work. Interpretation Cancer pain is a debilitating condition creating significant social and economic burden for Asian patients. In general, the patients surveyed had poor quality of life. Importantly, no scale was used for pain assessment in 49% of the patients. Opioids were prescribed to some patients only. This survey indicated a critical need to enhance cancer pain management via adequate assessment and therapy optimisation.