A pilot study of relationships among pain characteristics, mood disturbances, and acculturation in a community sample of Chinese American patients with cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the pain experience of Chinese American patients with cancer and to examine the relationships among pain characteristics, demographic characteristics, performance status, self-reported analgesic use, mood disturbances, and patients' acculturation levels.


METHODS
Descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Three community-based oncology facilities in the San Francisco, CA, Bay area.


METHODS
50 Chinese Americans who reported experiencing pain from cancer.


METHODS
Participants completed in their preferred language a demographic questionnaire, the Karnofsky Performance Status Scale, the Brief Pain Inventory, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale, and information about analgesic use. Descriptive and correlational statistics were used to evaluate data.


METHODS
Pain intensity, pain interference, performance status, anxiety, depression, analgesic use, and acculturation level.


RESULTS
Most of the patients reported moderate to severe pain and moderate levels of interference. Lower levels of acculturation were associated with higher least and worst pain intensity scores and higher pain interference scores. Anxiety and depression scores were in the moderate range. Higher depression scores were associated with higher pain interference scores. Self-reported analgesic use for 62% of the patients was classified as inadequate.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant percentage of Chinese American patients experience moderate to severe cancer pain that affects their mood and their ability to function.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses should assume a proactive role in assessing the physical, emotional, and cognitive dimensions of pain in Chinese American patients. Future research should evaluate the cancer pain experience of these vulnerable patients and develop and test culturally appropriate interventions.
Edrington
Janet
J
School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, USA. janet.edrington@ucsf.edu
Sun
Angela
A
Wong
Candice
C
Dodd
Marylin
M
Padilla
Geraldine
G
Paul
Steven
S
Miaskowski
Christine
C
D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D003153:Community Health Services; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000451:nursing; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000451:nursing; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000451:nursing; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012495:San Francisco / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016746:Transcultural Nursing
D000700:Analgesics