[Cancer pain therapy and palliative medicine. Concepts and results of a project at the cancer center of Rhineland-Palatinate from 1995-2001].

The cancer center of Rhineland-Palatinate conducted the project "Cancer Pain Therapy and Palliative Medicine" from 1995 to 2001. Questionnaires were circulated among physicians in Rhineland-Palatinate in 1995 and 1998. Positive changes were registered with regard to attitudes toward highly potent opioids and cooperation with outpatient hospice services. Responses to questions on knowledge of tumor pain therapy were better answered in 1998, but all in all only about one-third of the physicians replied appropriately. Similarly, development of a functioning network for medical counseling for tumor pain therapy was only possible to a limited extent. To achieve comprehensive inclusion of knowledge on palliative medicine in counseling programs, initiatives for continuing education should not be bound to a time-limited project.