Stein KaasaYear of primary qualification: 1993

Current institution: St. Olav's University Hospital, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

Title of presentation: Research in palliative care - what can surgeons learn? (Symposium: Palliative surgical care)

Learning objectives: As WHO states, palliative care improves the quality of life of patients with life-threatening illness and their families 'by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems'. To reach the goals there are some key challenges: to screen the patient population for relevant signs and symptoms; to diagnose and treat with the overall aim to improve quality of life; to choose the appropriate outcomes in clinical research; to integrate these goals into cancer care at any place in the healthcare system. A comprehensive computer-based system may solve some of these challenges.

Clinical/research background

  • Director of Palliative Medicine Unit, Trondheim University Hospital, Norway (1993-10)
  • Professor of Palliative medicine, Faculty of medicine, NTNU, Norway (1993 to present)
  • National Cancer Director, Norwegian Directorate of Health, Oslo, Norway (2006-2013)
  • Director, European Palliative Care Research Centre, NTNU, Norway (2009to present)
  • Head of the Cancer Clinic, St. Olavs Hospital HF, Trondheim, Norway (2010-2013)
  • Deputy managing director, St. Olavs Hospital HF, Trondheim, Norway (2013 to present)

Relevant peer-reviewed publications

  1. Treede RD, Rief W, Barke A, Aziz Q, Bennett MI, Benoliel R, et al. A classification of chronic  pain for ICD-11. Pain. 2015; Epub 07.04.15.
  2. Paulsen O, Klepstad P, Rosland JH, Aass N, Albert E, Fayers P, et al. Efficacy of Methylprednisolone on Pain, Fatigue, and Appetite Loss in Patients With Advanced Cancer Using Opioids: : A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2014;32(29):3221-8.
  3. Hui D, Kim YJ, Park JC, Zhang Y, Strasser F, Cherny N, et al. Integration of Oncology and Palliative Care: A Systematic Review. Oncologist. 2014.d, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2014.
  4. Brunelli C, Bennett MI, Kaasa S, Fainsinger R, Sjogren P, Mercadante S, et al. Classification of Neuropathic Pain in Cancer Patients: A Delphi Expert Survey Report and EAPC/IASP Proposal of an Algorithm for Diagnostic Criteria. Pain. 2014.
  5. Sigurdardottir KR, Kaasa S, Rosland JH, Bausewein C, Radbruch L, Haugen DF. The European Association for Palliative Care basic dataset to describe a palliative care cancer population: Results from an international Delphi process. Palliat Med. 2014. Feb 6;28(6):463-473 6.

Information submitted for ESCP Dublin 2015