Status of Cancer Pain in Hanoi, Vietnam: A Hospital-Wide Survey in a Tertiary Cancer Treatment Center

Little is known about the prevalence of cancer pain in many developing countries. We report a hospital-wide survey of pain in a tertiary cancer center in Hanoi, Vietnam. All inpatients and outpatients age 18 years or older were approached for participation in the study. Data were collected using the Brief Pain Inventory. Results showed a 70% response rate. Prevalence of moderate to severe pain was 50% (89/178), with 23% reporting severe ratings of pain at its “worst” and 33% reporting severe impairment in their ability to work due to pain. Only 1% and 40% reported total and partial pain relief from medications, respectively. This study is among the first to provide a representative view of pain in a tertiary cancer treatment center in Hanoi, Vietnam. The findings provide empirical support for the need for better programmatic efforts to improve relief of cancer pain in developing countries, including Vietnam.