[Indicators of structural quality in palliative care for cancer pain patients in Lower-Saxony].

Introduction: Palliative care in Germany fails to reach established standards. To improve this situation the Chamber of Physicians of Lower-Saxony initiated SUPPORT in 1995. Prior to interventions structural quality of care was evaluated, specifically the rate of availability of opioid-prescription-forms and the ability to treat chronic pain (defined as a construct of knowledge, attitudes and skills) were examined.

[Improvement of palliative outpatient treatment of terminally ill cancer patients - SUPPORT as example - The ethically preferable alternative to euthanasia].

Introduction: Industrial countries are experiencing substantial increases in cancer prevalence. While advanced cancer therapies resulted in prolonged survival most neoplasms still are incurable. Especially advanced stages of cancer are often accompanied by severe pain and other disabling symptoms.

[Basics of drug therapy of cancer pain].

Industrial countries experience a significant increase of cancer prevalence. Despite recent advances in the treatment of various types of cancer still most of the patients cannot be cured. Especially the advanced incurable stages of cancer, however, often are accompanied by severe pain.