Challenging the representations of cancer pain: experiences of a multidisciplinary pain management group in a palliative care unit.
OBJECTIVE
This article describes how a Multidisciplinary Pain Management Group was set up in a palliative care unit, and outlines the ways that the group works with different patients. We place these comments in the context of the wider representations of pain.


METHODS
Our observations of patients seen by the multidisciplinary team.


RESULTS
We tentatively propose that where the patient's pain has certain characteristics it may require a different approach. Patients who are older, with a lengthy treatment history, may require a different input than younger patients, who may have a number of factors that further complicate their experience of pain. We use our extensive experience with mesothelioma patients to draw a further important distinction between this patient group and other patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Our observations suggest the need to allow sufficient time for intensive psychological work to be done with mesothelioma patients in order for pharmacological interventions to be effective.
Chapman
Elizabeth
E
Arthur Rank Hospice, Cambridge, UK. ecc22@cam.ac.uk
Hughes
David
D
Landy
Annette
A
Whale
Judith
J
Saunders
Margaret
M
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing; D018710:Pain Clinics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom