title: The cancer pain experience of Israeli and American patients 65 years and older.
abstract: With the aging of the world's population, cancer pain will become an increasingly important health issue. The purpose of this study was to describe the cancer pain experience of Americans (n = 60) and Israelis (n = 39) 65 years and older. Outpatients in teaching hospitals in the U.S. and in Israel completed study questionnaires. Thirty percent of the total variance of worst pain was explained by age, symptom severity, and cancer stage, and 40% of the total variance of pain interference was explained by whether they were American or Israeli, symptom severity, and sense of coherence. Israeli patients had significantly higher scores on worst pain and pain interference, and significantly lower pain management index (PMI) and knowledge and attitudes toward pain and pain control scores. Studies with larger samples and across different cultures are needed to confirm these findings in order to develop culturally appropriate interventions.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Marlene Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Catherine F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Musgrave
authors.forename: Mark F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Munsell
authors.forename: Tito R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gips
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D029181:Spirituality; D014481:United States