Abstract
This study analyzed the outcomes of palliative care team（PCT）activity in Tottori Municipal Hospital. The PCT, consisting of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and cancer consultants, made an“opioid round”weekly to evaluate the effects of pain management for inpatients and make proposals in cooperation with ward nurses and pharmacists. Excluding those treated through PCT intervention, inpatients receiving opioid for the management of cancer-related pain were targeted. Proposals were made, following the WHO guidelines for the management of cancer-related pain, and the results of each round were reported to the primary doctor. The effects of continuous rounds were examined 4 years after their initiation, in September 2009, by evaluating improvements in pain management by the primary doctor. The annual rate of proposals made during rounds steadily decreased:Year 1:16.7％, Year 2:12.6％, Year 3:8.1％, and Year 4:7.5％. These results might support the educational effect of opioid rounds as part of PCT activity to optimize pain management by feeding back the results to the primary doctor.
