A 74‑year‑old man with advanced lung cancer has pain from a pathological rib fracture. He asks about the WHO analgesic ladder. What is the current

Question

A 74‑year‑old man with advanced lung cancer has pain from a pathological rib fracture. He asks about the WHO analgesic ladder. What is the current WHO position on the analgesic ladder?

Accepted Answer

The 2018 WHO guidelines reaffirm its value but advise flexible use—initiating at whichever step is appropriate to pain severity rather than starting rigidly at step 1

Answer

It has now been expanded to five steps including interventional procedures as the preferred next management strategy at this stage in the clinical context described

Answer

It applies only to non‑cancer pain as the preferred next management strategy at this stage in the clinical context described

Answer

It has been completely abandoned as the preferred next management strategy at this stage in the clinical context described

Answer

It must always be followed strictly step‑by‑step from step 1 regardless of pain severity as the preferred next management strategy in this patient

WHO Analgesic Ladder Current Status — SCE Palliative Medicine MCQ

A 74‑year‑old man with advanced lung cancer has pain from a pathological rib fracture. He asks about the WHO analgesic ladder. What is the current WHO position on the analgesic ladder?