Pain in clinical oncology: patient satisfaction with management of cancer pain.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Despite effective analgesic therapy, inadequate pain control is frequently perceived by patients and caregivers.

AIMS:

To assess satisfaction with management of pain in cancer patients.

METHODS:

Between January and May 2007, a cross-sectional multicentre study was conducted in 64 Medical Oncology Departments throughout Spain. A total of 525 outpatients with oncological diseases completed a questionnaire with demographic data, characteristics and intensity of pain, and perceptions and attitudes towards pain management at the time of a routine clinical visit. Physicians also completed a questionnaire with tumour-related and treatment-related data. Cluster analysis was used to classify patients into three groups (satisfied, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied or neutral, dissatisfied) according to pain intensity and satisfaction with treatment.

RESULTS:

Patients satisfied with their analgesic treatment (33%) had lower pain intensities and, when regularly asked about their pain, considered their physicians to be more involved in their treatment. Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied patients (neutral) (44%) had higher mean pain intensities. Two-thirds of them achieved marked relief of their pain and also thought that physicians were aware of their situation. Dissatisfied patients (23%) had moderate to severe pain intensities, and said that they were asked less frequently about their pain, and thought that their physicians were less involved in their analgesic treatment.

CONCLUSION:

Physician-patient communication and information provided to patients are essential aspects of patient perceptions and attitudes towards control of cancer-related pain. Pain is seen as a condition that may be controlled but affects the capacity to lead a normal life.

• Authors: A Antón, J Montalar, J Carulla, C Jara, N Batista, C Camps, J Cassinello, J Sanz-Ortiz, E Díaz-Rubio, C Martínez, F Ledesma, E Zubillaga, ALGOS Group, DOME III Study Group
• Journal: European journal of pain (London, England) (Eur J Pain) Vol. 16 Issue 3 Pg. 381-9 (Mar 2012) ISSN: 1532-2149 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22337158 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2011 European Federation of International Association for the Study of Pain Chapters.

Chemical References

• Analgesics

Topics

• Aged
• Analgesics (therapeutic use)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasms (complications)
• Pain (drug therapy, etiology)
• Pain Measurement
• Patient Satisfaction
• Physician-Patient Relations
• Surveys and Questionnaires