Attitudes about cancer pain: A survey of Wisconsin's first-year medical students

A brief questionnaire was administered to 317 first-year students at Wisconsin's two medical schools to assess their attitudes about cancer pain prior to their entry into medical school. Although the students had a realistic perspective of the prevalence and severity of cancer pain, they displayed a number of negative attitudes that if unchanged would contribute to future inadequate pain treatment. Students (a) greatly exaggerated the incidence of psychological dependence (addiction) in patients treated with opioid analgesics, (b) inappropriately timed maximal analgesic therapy to the duration of life expectancy, (c) felt that a majority of patients with cancer currently receive adequate or excessive analgesic therapy, and (d) believed that increasing pain was invariably related to the development of drug tolerance rather than to progression of the disease. Curricular efforts need to be directed at bringing about changes in students' negative attitudes about cancer pain and its management.     

A retrospective study on the use of oral morphine in cancer pain

The authors report a retrospective study of 390 cancer pain patients tested with oral morphine during a four-month period. Initial pain scores were reduced to one half after one week of treatment and then maintained throughout the study period. Mean daily dosages of morphine were lower in those patients 65 years and older. No significant changes in performance in relation to therapy were noted except for an increase in hours of sleep. An accurate titration of dosage and continued control of side effects are the main requirements of this method of administration. The presence of side effects and the cause of interruption of treatment are reported.     

A Quebec survey of issues in cancer pain management.

We report the results of a cancer pain survey mailed to Quebec hematologist-oncologists and palliative care physicians in 1999. The survey was designed to sample views on the current status of pain management and on obstacles to the provision of adequate pain relief for patients. The survey, formulated by an ethics network centered at the Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, was distributed to all members of the Association of Hematologist-Oncologists of Quebec and to all physician members of the Quebec Palliative Care Association. Responses were obtained from 138 Palliative Care Association members (response rate 61%) and 76 hematologist-oncologists (response rate 45%). Major obstacles reported included inadequate assessment of both contributory psychosocial issues and severity of pain, patient reluctance to take opioids, and inadequate access to non-drug techniques for pain relief. Access to opioids was not regarded as a problem. Both groups felt generally competent in their ability to manage various aspects of cancer pain therapy. They gave little credit to their formal medical school or residency training. Fifty-six percent of the palliative care group and 57% of the hemato-oncologists rated their medical school experience as only "poor" or "fair" on a 4-point scale. Residency ratings were modestly better. We conclude that medical faculties should assign a high priority to teaching health professionals patient assessment techniques. Simple symptom assessment scales should be routinely used in oncology/palliative care practice. Medical school training in pain management is not highly regarded and should be enhanced. We also note that, based on response to the scenario of a patient presenting with severe pain, many physicians, while feeling competent in the use of opioids, may be overly conservative in their initial use.     

癌痛护理策略团队模式管理在中重度癌痛患者中的运用

目的探讨癌痛护理策略团队模式管理对中重度癌痛患者疼痛程度及生命质量的影响。方法选择2019年8月—2020年8月医院肿瘤科收治的120例癌症患者为研究对象,按照组间基本资料具有可比性的原则分为对照组和观察组,每组60例。对照组患者进行癌痛常规护理干预指导,观察组患者在此基础上建立癌痛护理策略团队进行疼痛护理管理,比较两组患者疼痛控制效果、癌症患者生存质量测定量表(EORCT QLQ-C30)评分。结果干预前,两组患者各项疼痛控制指标评分和各领域生命质量评分比较差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);干预后观察组患者疼痛程度、疼痛影响和疼痛信念维度评分均低于对照组,疼痛控制满意度评分高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);干预后观察组患者功能领域各维度评分和总生命质量评分高于对照组,症状领域评分低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论通过建立癌痛护理策略团队对中重度癌痛患者进行疼痛护理,可缓解患者疼痛,改善患者疼痛结局,提升患者生命质量。     

自我管理方法在癌症疼痛患者健康教育中的应用

目的探索自我管理方法在癌症疼痛患者控制疼痛、提高生活质量中的应用。方法控制疼痛过程中,对照组患者只实施健康教育,实验组患者在此基础上鼓励并指导患者实施自我管理,调动患者的主观能动性,掌握控制疼痛的方法。结果两组患者疼痛评分差异具有统计学意义,实验组患者疼痛得到更好的控制。结论自我管理方法应用于健康教育能增强癌症疼痛患者及家属无痛生活的信心,掌握控制疼痛的知识和技能,纠正错误观念,依靠自己的力量解决因疾病带来的各种躯体和情绪方面的问题。     

A multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multiple-crossover study of Fentanyl Pectin Nasal Spray (FPNS) in the treatment of breakthrough cancer pain

This randomized, double-blind, crossover study assessed the efficacy and tolerability of a new rapid onset nasal fentanyl formulation (Fentanyl Pectin Nasal Spray; FPNS) for breakthrough cancer pain (BTCP). Eighty-three of 114 patients experiencing one to four BTCP episodes/day while taking ?60 mg/day of oral morphine or equivalent successfully identified an effective dose of FPNS during a titration phase and entered a double-blind phase in which 10 BTCP episodes were treated with this effective dose (7) or placebo (3). Compared with placebo, FPNS significantly improved mean summed pain intensity difference (SPID) from 10 min (P < 0.05) until 60 min (P < 0.0001), including the primary endpoint at 30 min (P < 0.0001). FPNS significantly improved pain intensity (PI) scores as early as 5 min (P < 0.05); pain intensity difference (PID) from 10 min (P < 0.01); and pain relief (PR) scores from 10 min (P < 0.001). More patients showed a clinically meaningful (?2-point reduction in PI) pain reduction from 10 min onward (P ? 0.01) and 90.6% of the FPNS-treated versus 80.0% of placebo-treated BTCP episodes did not require rescue medication (P < 0.001). Approximately 70% of patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the convenience and ease of use of FPNS. Only 5.3% of patients withdrew from treatment due to adverse events, no significant nasal effects were reported, and 87% of patients elected to continue open-label treatment post-study. In this short-term study, FPNS was safe, well tolerated, and rapidly efficacious for BTCP.     

Effectiveness of knowledge translation interventions to improve cancer pain management

ContextCancer pain is prevalent, yet patients do not receive best care despite widely available evidence. Although national cancer control policies call for education, effectiveness of such programs is unclear and best practices are not well defined.ObjectivesTo examine existing evidence on whether knowledge translation (KT) interventions targeting health care providers, patients, and caregivers improve cancer pain outcomes.MethodsA systematic review and meta-analysis were undertaken to evaluate primary studies that examined effects of KT interventions on providers and patients.ResultsTwenty-six studies met the inclusion criteria. Five studies reported interventions targeting health care providers, four focused on patients or their families, one study examined patients and their significant others, and 16 studies examined patients only. Seven quantitative comparisons measured the statistical effects of interventions. A significant difference favoring the treatment group in least pain intensity (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.44, 1.42) and in usual pain/average pain (95% CI: 0.13, 0.74) was observed. No other statistical differences were observed. However, most studies were assessed as having high risk of bias and failed to report sufficient information about the intervention dose, quality of educational material, fidelity, and other key factors required to evaluate effectiveness of intervention design.ConclusionTrials that used a higher dose of KT intervention (characterized by extensive follow-up, comprehensive educational program, and higher resource allocation) were significantly more likely to have positive results than trials that did not use this approach. Further attention to methodological issues to improve educational interventions and research to clarify factors that lead to better pain control are urgently needed.     

对护理人员癌性疼痛认知程度的调查

目的了解护理人员对癌性疼痛的认知程度。方法对108名护士发放自制问卷,调查对癌性疼痛的认知程度。结果外科、低年资、低职称、低学历护士对癌痛知识掌握较差。结论应加强低职称、低学历、低年资护士理论知识学习,发挥老护士的指导作用,实行科室轮转制。     

Long-term effectiveness of a patient and family pain education program on overcoming barriers to management of cancer pain

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of a patient and family pain education program on reducing cancer patients' and their families' barriers to (i.e., concerns or misconceptions about) cancer pain management, on increasing patients' adherence to a prescribed analgesic regimen, and on decreasing pain intensity and pain interference with daily life. An experimental and longitudinal design was used. The experimental group consisted of 31 pairs of cancer outpatients and their family carers, while the control group consisted of 30 patient-family pairs (N=122). Patients and their family carers in the experimental group simultaneously received a pain management education program. Both groups had pretest data collection and after-test follow-ups on the second and fourth weeks at the outpatient clinics. Comparisons between those two groups were made using the Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) method. Results revealed that at both the second and fourth weeks, patients and family carers in the experimental group showed a significantly greater reduction in barrier scores than did patients and family carers in the control group. At the second and fourth weeks, patients in the experimental group reported significantly better adherence to a scheduled analgesic regimen than did patients in the control group. In the fourth week, patients in the experimental group reported significantly lower levels of worst pain intensity and pain interference than did patients in the control group. This research provides evidence of the effectiveness of a patient and family pain education program.     

A survey of mouth pain and dryness in patients with advanced cancer

 An 11-item face-to-face survey was conducted in 99 consecutive patients with advanced cancer to determine the prevalence, intensity, reporting and treatment, presumed cause(s), and importance of mouth pain and dryness. Sixteen of the 99 patients (16%) reported experiencing mouth pain at a mean intensity corresponding to 5.5±SD 2.21 on a 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain) numerical scale, and 88 (88%) patients reported dry mouth at a mean intensity corresponding to 6.2±SD 2.21. Nine (56%) of the 16 patients with mouth pain and 39 (44%) of the 88 patients with mouth dryness reported these symptoms to their attending physician(s). Sixty-nine percent (27/39) of patients who reported having a dry mouth were advised by their physician(s) to pursue one or more treatments. The most common treatments recommended (and frequencies) were drinking water/taking sips of fluid (13), gargling with bicarbonate mouthwash (4), using an artificial saliva spray (4), and using an oral fungal suspension for thrush (4). The most common findings on oral examination included: possible thrush (53 patients), upper and lower dentures (33 patients), and multiple dental restorations (23 patients). The causes most frequently assumed to be responsible were ill-fitting dentures for mouth pain, and medications and possible oral fungal infections for mouth dryness. The mean values given for the importance of the symptoms of mouth pain and dryness relative to other symptoms or problems experienced by the patients were 4.4±SD 1.84 and 3.6±SD 1.67, respectively, on a Likert scale ranging from 1 (not important) to 7 (great importance). Mouth dryness was more frequently reported than mouth pain. The mean rating for the intensity of mouth pain was higher than that for mouth dryness, although both were of moderate importance to patients relative to other symptoms or problems experienced at the time. Patients tended to underreport mouth pain and dryness, and physicians tended to address such complaints inadequately. Published online: 3 August 2000     

A model for the treatment of cancer pain

Previous suggested protocols for the management of cancer pain have focused solely on the use of systemic analgesics. Studies of other modalities of pain management have reported the effectiveness of single methods of therapy (such as nerve blocks or surgical ablation). In response to the increasing recognition that cancer pain may be difficult to manage with any single-modality therapy, we used an expert (or consensual) panel method to propose how multiple therapies (analgesics, neuroablative procedures, and other non-drug therapies) might be combined in the management of patients with progressive pain. The product of this method is a decision tree suggesting the steps at which to consider various combined therapies dependent upon response to prior treatment. The decision tree is expected to have utility as an educational tool as well as a basis for generating testable hypotheses about the effectiveness of combined therapies for future clinical research.     

Opioid titration in cancer pain: A critical review

Initiation of therapy with strong opioids is a challenging phase to obtain the maximum benefit and to gain the patient's compliance. The approach could be different, depending on the clinical situation and type of opioid regimen. Substantially, the need to titrate the dose of strong opioids emerges in different conditions: (a) in opioid-naive patients who require an opioid treatment; (b) in patients no longer responsive to weaker drugs requiring strong opioids; (c) in patients already receiving strong opioids requiring higher doses because of an increase in pain intensity or a new acute pain problem; (d) in patients who are severely suffering and need an intensive as well as rapid intervention, due to previous persistent undertreatment. Whilst there is a vast literature confirming the effectiveness of most opioid drugs for the treatment of chronic pain, there is a lack of information regarding opioid titration. This review assesses the principal titration methods and outcomes regarding the different opioid drugs and their modalities of administration, in different clinical contexts.     

Level of cancer pain knowledge among baccalaureate student nurses

Inadequate nursing education is a major impediment to effective pain relief for cancer patients throughout the world. This study was conducted to identify the level of cancer pain knowledge among baccalaureate student nurses and to determine whether specific activities affect this level of knowledge. Two questionnaires were administered to 82 baccalaureate student nurses in the final course of their program. Although the students displayed a realistic perspective about the severity and prevalence of cancer pain and psychological dependence, specific knowledge deficits and negative attitudes suggest the possibility of inadequate pain management. Specifically, the students believed that (a) maximal analgesic therapy should be delayed until the patient's prognosis was less than 12 months; (b) the proportion of patients whose pain can be controlled by appropriate therapy is less than is possible; (c) increasing pain is related to tolerance rather than to progression of the disease; (d) the preferred route of administration is intravenous rather than oral; and (e) the degree of respiratory depression, rather than constipation, does not decrease with repeated administration. Significant positive correlations (P ≤ 0.05) were found between age and cancer pain knowledge and between attendance at seminars/ workshops and time spent reading professional journal articles. Of the 30% of the participants who perceived a particular person to be a source for obtaining information about cancer pain management, 52% specified a practicing registered nurse. Seminars and workshops were chosen by 59% of the students as the most effective way for nurses to increase their knowledge. This study suggests a need for basic cancer pain management education at the undergraduate level as well as continuing education through seminars and workshops.     

癌痛患者口袋日记本的设计与临床应用

目的：为癌痛患者制作一种携带方便的癌痛管理日记本,提高肿瘤患者对癌痛知识的掌握,促进患者主动参与癌痛规范化治疗。方法选取四川省肿瘤医院6个癌痛示范病房的299例中重度癌痛患者,将病房分别编号,随机分为研究组156例和对照组143例。对照组采用常规癌痛健康教育指导,研究组在此基础上给每个患者分发一本癌痛患者口袋日记本,动态记录疼痛控制情况及不良反应。采用自制肿瘤患者癌痛知识自评问卷和肿瘤患者癌痛控制满意度问卷于患者出院前进行测试和评价。结果研究组患者癌痛评估与药物使用得分与对照组比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),研究组不良反应预防得分(15.84±1.70)分,不良反应观察(15.84±1.70)分,癌痛误区鉴别(18.52±1.16)分,均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(t 值分别为5.25,2.38,13.53;P <0.05)。研究组非常满意98例,满意55例,不满意3例,满意度高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(Z=8.87,P<0.05)。结论癌痛患者口袋日记本制作简单、携带方便、实用性强,有利于提高肿瘤患者对癌痛知识的掌握水平,促进患者参与癌痛规范化治疗,提高癌痛控制自我管理能力和满意度。     

Improving the quality of pain treatment by a tailored pain education programme for cancer patients in chronic pain.

Educational interventions, aiming to increase patients' knowledge and attitude regarding pain, can affect pain treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a Pain Education Programme (PEP), on adequacy of pain treatment, and to describe characteristics predicting change in adequacy. The PEP consists of a multi-method approach in which patients are educated about the basic principles regarding pain, instructed how to report pain in a pain diary, how to communicate about pain, and how to contact healthcare providers. The effects of the PEP were evaluated taking into consideration the lack of well-established outcome measures to evaluate adequacy of pain treatment, the lack of long-term follow-up, and the influence of missing data.A prospective, randomized study was utilized in which 313 chronic cancer patients were followed-up until 8 weeks postdischarge. Adequacy of pain treatment was evaluated by means of the Amsterdam Pain Management Index (APMI), consisting of an integrated score of patients' Present Pain Intensity, Average Pain Intensity, and Worst Pain Intensity, corrected for patients' Tolerable Present Pain, with the analgesics used by the patient. At pretest, 60% of the patients in the hospital were treated inadequately for their pain. Postdischarge, the control group patients were significantly more inadequately treated at 2 weeks after discharge (56% vs 41%), at 4 weeks after discharge (62% vs 42%) and at 8 weeks after discharge (57% vs 51%) than the intervention group patients. While the level of inadequacy in the control groups remained relatively stable at all assessment points, a slight increase in the percentage of patients being treated inadequately was found in the intervention group patients over time. A beneficial effect of the PEP was found for patients both with and without district nursing. Variables predicting an improvement in adequacy of pain treatment consisted of the PEP, the APMI score at baseline, patients' level of physical functioning, patients' level of social functioning, the extent of adherence to pain medication, patients' pain knowledge, and the amount of analgesics used.These findings suggest that quality of pain treatment in cancer patients with chronic pain can be enhanced by educating patients about pain and improving active participation in their own pain treatment. The benefit from the PEP, however, decreases slightly over time, pointing at a need for ongoing education.     

Cancer patient and caregiver experiences: communication and pain management issues

This study examined facilitators and barriers to effective patient and caregiver communication with providers with emphasis on communication related to cancer pain management. Focus groups and personal interviews were conducted with cancer patients and family caregivers of patients. Communication experiences of subjects as well as suggestions for ways to improve the communication process were elicited. Twenty-two cancer patients and 16 family caregivers participated in the study. Seven themes emerged suggesting improvements that are needed in the communication process. These include: 1) improving the process of information exchange, 2) increasing active participation of patient and caregiver in the care process, 3) improving provider relationship-building skills, 4) overcoming time barriers, 5) addressing fears regarding use of pain management medications, 6) fostering appropriate involvement of family and caregivers in the communication process, and 7) improving coordination of care among providers. Specific suggestions and their practice implications for health care providers are highlighted.     

Organic brain syndromes and opioid administration for cancer pain

To clarify the range of potential etiologies that may contribute to organic brain syndrome in patients receiving systemic opioids for cancer pain, we describe 15 patients who presented this complication. In 11 cases, concomitant conditions were found that could contribute to the onset of organic brain syndrome. These data illustrate that multiple causes often play a role in the development of mental status changes in advanced cancer. Opioids are seldom the only causal factor implicated.