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Book

WHO Analgesic Ladder

Aabha A. Anekar  1 , Joseph Maxwell Hendrix  2 , Marco Cascella  3
In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan.
.
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Book

WHO Analgesic Ladder

Aabha A. Anekar et al.
Free Books & Documents

Excerpt

In 1986, the World Health Organization (WHO) proposed the WHO analgesic ladder to provide adequate pain relief for cancer patients. The analgesic ladder was part of a vast health program termed the WHO Cancer Pain and Palliative Care Program, aimed at improving strategies for cancer pain management through educational campaigns, creating shared strategies, and developing a global network of support.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Aabha Anekar declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Joseph Maxwell Hendrix declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Marco Cascella declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

References

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    1. Jadad AR, Browman GP. The WHO analgesic ladder for cancer pain management. Stepping up the quality of its evaluation. JAMA. 1995 Dec 20;274(23):1870-3. - PubMed
    1. Orhan ME, Bilgin F, Ergin A, Dere K, Güzeldemir ME. [Pain treatment practice according to the WHO analgesic ladder in cancer patients: eight years experience of a single center]. Agri. 2008 Oct;20(4):37-43. - PubMed
    1. Araujo AM, Gómez M, Pascual J, Castañeda M, Pezonaga L, Borque JL. [Treatment of pain in the oncology patient]. An Sist Sanit Navar. 2004;27 Suppl 3:63-75. - PubMed
    1. Dworkin RH, O'Connor AB, Backonja M, Farrar JT, Finnerup NB, Jensen TS, Kalso EA, Loeser JD, Miaskowski C, Nurmikko TJ, Portenoy RK, Rice ASC, Stacey BR, Treede RD, Turk DC, Wallace MS. Pharmacologic management of neuropathic pain: evidence-based recommendations. Pain. 2007 Dec 05;132(3):237-251. - PubMed

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