Prevalência e características epidemiológicas e clínicas de pacientes oncológicos em uso de opióides com constipação intestinal.

Abstract

Pain is one of the most common symptoms in patients affected by cancer, especially when the disease is in an advanced state, affecting the quality of life. For pain relief oncology patients make use of opioid drugs, which produce various side effects, including constipation. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and clinical and epidemiological characteristics of cancer patients on opioids with constipation. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional and prospective held in Paraibana Assistance Foundation (PAF) in Campina Grande, Paraíba during the months of February and March 2013. Participated in this study in 20 cancer patients using opioids presenting constipation. The survey was conducted from a semi-structured questionnaire containing objective and subjective questions based on Rome III Criteria and Scale Bristol. To be invited to participate in the study, participants were informed about the purpose of the study. Secrecy, anonymity and withdrawal at any time of the survey were guaranteed by the participation of a Term of Consent, provided at time of interview. For the presentation of data was adopted descriptive statistics being used to program Microsoft Excel 2007 and analysis of the data was discussed in the light of relevant literature. From this work it is concluded that the prevalence of constipation due to use of opioids was highest in women aged between 41 and 51 years old. The clinical aspects of the study reveal that the majority of survey participants had a family history related to neoplastic disease. A mastectomy was the most performed and most widely used drug of choice was morphine. With regard to risk factors related to the onset of constipation are: the reduction of oral hydration and difficulty about privacy to evacuate. In relation to the Rome III Criteria and Scale Bristol, all survey participants reported decreased frequency in bowel habits (less than three times per week), pain on defecation, straining when defecating and most of them voiced their stool had hardened and that were difficult to pass. According to these results we can see the importance of constipation be addressed by nurses in nursing consultations, develop actions systematized and interrelated, for the prevention and / or treatment of the problem.