title: Continuing education: a comprehensive approach to improving cancer pain management and patient satisfaction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report on the development and outcomes of a comprehensive program to improve cancer pain management and patient satisfaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Published research and guidelines, review articles, and patients' personal experiences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A comprehensive cancer pain management program includes performance improvement, patient satisfaction, nursing education, and pain management rounds. This approach to pain can result in effective pain management, patients' reports of acceptable levels of pain, and an increase in patient satisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Semiweekly pain management rounds provided the opportunity for nurses to practice equianalgesic dosing and make recommendations for changes in pain management. Effective pain management plans can lead to an increase in scores that measure patient satisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nursing pain management education and subsequent use of pain management principles during and between pain management rounds can lead to effective pain management and satisfaction for patients with cancer. Research is needed to assess whether comprehensive programs can change pain management practices in other patient populations.
authors.affiliation: Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, NJ, USA. eers619@aol.com
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sterman
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gauker
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krieger
mesh_terms: D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing*; D015402:Nursing Education Research / Q000379:methods; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research / Q000379:methods; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000193:education*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000451:nursing*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics