National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2015). NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®): Adult cancer pain [v.2.2015]. Retrieved from http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/pain.pdf
Purpose & Patient Population
Type of Resource/Evidence-Based Process
Phase of Care and Clinical Applications
Results Provided in the Reference
The results of literature search were not provided, and the only database cited was PubMed.
Guidelines & Recommendations
These guidelines provided dosing recommendations for the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, etc. for various levels of pain. It recommended many types of adjuvant pharmacologic and nonharmacologic interventions, from energy conservation to cognitive behavioral therapy. It specifically suggested opioids for breakthrough pain at a standard percentage of basal opioid dose, education, and anxiolytics for acute pain.
Limitations
Many of the guidelines were based on consensus and did not provide specific information about the evidence for each recommendation. The scope of the guideline was holistic in nature but less clear in terms of the actual evidence base
Nursing Implications
These guidelines provided useful information about dosing, equivalents across multiple medication types, and strategies for opioid rotation but did not provide clarity in terms of the actual strength of recommendations based on evidence.