Author MAQ designed the study, performed the statistical analysis, wrote the protocol, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Author MAK participated in designing the study, collecting data, reading and revising the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Background:Cancer incidence in the world is predicted to increase in the next decade. While progress has been in diagnosis and treatment, much is still remains to be done to improve cancer pain therapy, mainly in underserved communities in low income countries.Objective: To determine knowledge, beliefs and barriers regarding pain management in both high and low income countries (according to the WHO classification); and to learn about ways to improve the current state of affairs. Design: Descriptive surveySetting/Subjects: 56 countries worldwide; convenience sample of 1,639 consisted of 36.8% physicians; 45.1% nurses and 4.5% pharmacists employed in varied settings. Results:Improved pain management services are key elements. Top barriers include religion factors, lack of appropriate education and training at all levels, non-adherence to guidelines, patients reluctance to report on pains, over regulation associated with prescribing and access to opioid anangetics, fear of addiction to opioids, lack of discussions around prognosis & treatment planning. Conclusion:The majority of patients with cancer in low income countries are undertreated for their pain. Promoting cancer pain accredited program of training and education on pain management for physicians and nurses is crucial; as well as advocating policymakers and the public at large.

Background: The authors were unable to find studies comparing the critical thinking skills of nursing students on advanced standing programmes (ASP) and on traditional 4-year BN programmes in Canada. The ASP is a condensed Bachelor of Nursing (BN) programme, designed for students who already have a university degree or similar qualification. Aim: To measure and compare the critical thinking skills of ASP students and traditional 4-year BN students. Method: A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire used to collect data from 100 nursing students at a university in Canada. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. All research ethics were taken into consideration. Findings: All participants scored highly in their critical thinking skills. However, ASP students scored significantly higher than their counterparts on the 4-year programme (M=21.6 vs M=18.9, F=4.75, P=0.035). Conclusion: Higher critical thinking skills among ASP nursing students is a promising sign to expand and support this type of programme as a fast and effective method to cover the shortage in nurses.

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