Didacticiel opiacés AlgoED

Cancer pain has its own characteristics and requires a global and multidisciplinary management. In addition to the background chronic pain, cancer patients frequently suffer breakthrough pain requiring special treatment. Innovative pharmaceutical opioids, with different pharmacokinetic characteristics (extended release, normal, fast release) allow now the treatment of pain in its different expressions. The patient involvement and its understanding of the issues are key elements for a good compliance and for reaching expected results. In light of these factors, the team of Nîmes Franciscan Hospital has developed an educational tool for patient on the different types of pain in cancer and for their management by opioids. Sharing these concepts (including pharmacological) allows patients to better understand mechanisms of pain and the goal of each treatment. The therapeutic education is provided in a multidisciplinary consultation that addresses pain in all its dimensions, including psychological aspect with among others the potential barriers to taking morphine. Algoed tool, originally submitted in paper format, was developed in an electronic way (tutorial). A printed version of diagrams and a sum-up table of the different prescribed drugs can be given to the patient. The effectiveness of this educational tool, experienced in our service (150 to 200 patients treated each year for cancer pain), ought to be validated in the future in larger cohorts of patients.