A randomized controlled trial of a nurse-administered educational intervention for improving cancer pain management in ambulatory settings.
The persistence of negative attitudes towards cancer pain and its treatment suggests there is scope for identifying more effective pain education strategies. This randomized controlled trial involving 189 ambulatory cancer patients evaluated an educational intervention that aimed to optimize patients' ability to manage pain. One week post-intervention, patients receiving the pain management intervention (PMI) had a significantly greater increase in self-reported pain knowledge, perceived control over pain, and number of pain treatments recommended. Intervention group patients also demonstrated a greater reduction in willingness to tolerate pain, concerns about addiction and side effects, being a "good" patient, and tolerance to pain relieving medication. The results suggest that targeted educational interventions that utilize individualized instructional techniques may alter cancer patient attitudes, which can potentially act as barriers to effective pain management.
Yates
Patsy
P
Center for Health Research, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove Campus, Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane 4059, Australia. p.yates@qut.edu.au
Edwards
Helen
H
Nash
Robyn
R
Aranda
Sanchia
S
Purdie
David
D
Najman
Jake
J
Skerman
Helen
H
Walsh
Anne
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015984:Causality; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology