Most Vietnamese Doctors Don’t Know How to Alleviate Pain
Author Unknown
Vietnamnet.va
Three out of 4 doctors and nurses don’t know how to make people feel better, according to a recent investigation conducted in Hanoi, HCM City, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh and An Giang.
Mr. Luong Ngoc Khue, Deputy Head of the Department of Treatment at the Ministry of Health, said investigation results revealed that only 23% of health staff knew how to alleviate pain. 77% of cancer patients and 84% of HIV/AIDS carriers complain they are still in pain even after pain treatment.
The main reason doctors and nurses are unable to mitigate the pain of patients is that there are no detailed instructions on how to use the opioid painkillers which are commonly used in hospitals. Consequently, many doctors and nurses use opioid painkillers in the same way as morphine. In addition, their lack of understanding of opioids makes many health staff hesitant to prescribe this type of painkiller to patients.
Only 40% of doctors and nurses have received instruction in alleviating pain and 18% of them still have difficulties administering opioids.
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/social/2007/03/678285/
