Abstract
Purpose of the research
Pain is not only one of the most undesirable side effects of cancer but also one of
its major complications. This study attempted to evaluate and describe the pain characteristics
and pain control in patients with advanced cancer and to identify factors related
to effective analgesic treatment.
Methods and sample
A descriptive cross-sectional study involving the eight larger oncology centres in
Greece was conducted in 2008. Cancer patients (n = 134) attending the oncology outpatient departments were interviewed using a 35-item
questionnaire regarding pain- and treatment-related characteristics.
Key results
The great majority of the patients (72%) with advanced malignancy reported high pain
intensity and 66.4% experienced the pain as continuous. Although most patients (81%)
responded to treatment, more than 30% reported side effects and asked for treatment
to change. Better informed patients about the disease showed higher response to pain
treatment (OR 3.21; 95%CI 1.28–8.01). Adherence to treatment was related to pain response
(OR 3.05; 95%CI 1.06–8.75), whereas negative attitudes and feelings toward treatment
were related with reluctance to take analgesic treatment (OR 4.27; 95%CI 1.31–13.89).
Patients’ request for changing medication was significantly related to the presence
of side effects (OR 8.26; 95%CI 2.80–24.42) and pain response to treatment (OR 0.09;
95%CI 0.03–0.31).
Conclusions
Negative attitudes and feelings toward treatment combined with deficits in patient
education/information seem to influence both pain response and therapy compliance
suggesting the need for more comprehensive approach to pain management of cancer patients.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 22, 2010
Identification
Copyright
© 2010 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
