Morphine prescription to terminally ill patients with lung cancer and dyspnea: French physicians’ attitudes

Marc K. Bendiane, MSC; Patrick Peretti-Watel, PhD; Herve Pegliasco, MD; Roger Favre, PhD; Anne Galinier, MD; Jean-Marc Lapiana, MD; Yolande Obadia, MD

doi:10.5055/jom.2005.0008

Authors

Marc K. Bendiane, MSC
Patrick Peretti-Watel, PhD
Herve Pegliasco, MD
Roger Favre, PhD
Anne Galinier, MD
Jean-Marc Lapiana, MD
Yolande Obadia, MD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jom.2005.0008

Keywords:

morphine, dyspnea, end-of-life care, lung cancer, France

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate factors associated with analgesic use of morphine in end-of-life care. French general practitioners (GPs) and oncologists (N = 719) were asked whether they would prescribe morphine asfirst-line therapy to patients with terminal lung cancer suffering from dyspnea associated with cough and great anxiety. Overall, 54 percent of oncologists and 40percent of GPs stated that they would prescribe morphine in the presented case. This prescriptive attitude correlated with physicians’ age, professional back-ground, communication skills, and attitude toward terminally ill patients. The findings of this study indicate that improving analgesic use of opioids in end-of-life care is not only a matter of enhancing technical skills acquired through training or experience but also a matter of improving communication and empathy between physicians and patients.

Author Biographies

Marc K. Bendiane, MSC

Regional Centre for Disease Control of South-Eastern France; National Institute for Health and Medical Research—Unit 379, Institut Paoli Calmettes, Marseille, France.

Patrick Peretti-Watel, PhD

Regional Centre for Disease Control of South-Eastern France; National Institute for Health and Medical Research—Unit 379, Institut Paoli Calmettes, Marseille, France.

Herve Pegliasco, MD

Departmental Centre of Private Health Professionals, Marseille, France.

Roger Favre, PhD

Head of the Department of Medical Oncology, Public Hospitals of Marseilles, Marseilles, France.

Anne Galinier, MD

Head of the Department of Penitentiary Care, Public Hospitals of Marseilles, Marseilles, France.

Jean-Marc Lapiana, MD

Head of La Maison (palliative care clinic), Gardanne, France.

Yolande Obadia, MD

Head of the Regional Center for Disease Control of South-Eastern France; National Institute for Health and Medical Research—Unit3 79, Marseilles, France.

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