The usefulness of a daily pain management diary for outpatients with cancer-related pain.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the usefulness of daily pain management diaries to outpatients with cancer who participated in a randomized clinical trial of the PRO-SELF Pain Control Program.


METHODS
Randomized clinical trial in which a daily pain management diary was used for data collection in the control group and for data collection and nurse coaching regarding the pain management program in the intervention group.


METHODS
Seven outpatient oncology settings.


METHODS
155 patients with pain from bone metastases and 90 family caregivers.


METHODS
Content and statistical analysis of audiotaped answers to a semistructured questionnaire.


METHODS
Patients' and family caregivers' perceptions of the usefulness of a daily pain management diary; specific ways in which the diary was used.


RESULTS
Patients in both the intervention (75%) and control groups (73%) found the diary useful. The diary was used to heighten awareness of pain, guide pain management behavior, enhance a sense of control, and facilitate communication. Family caregivers in both groups also reported that the diary was useful.


CONCLUSIONS
The completion of a daily pain management diary is useful to patients and family caregivers and may function as an intervention for self-care.


CONCLUSIONS
Research-based evidence supports the importance of using a daily pain management diary in clinical practice.
Schumacher
Karen L
KL
School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Koresawa
Setsuko
S
West
Claudia
C
Dodd
Marilyn
M
Paul
Steven M
SM
Tripathy
Debu
D
Koo
Peter
P
Miaskowski
Christine
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing* / Q000556:secondary; D017028:Caregivers; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D010045:Outpatients; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing*; D012107:Research Design; D012648:Self Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires