title: Satisfaction with and Perception of Pain Management among Palliative Patients with Breakthrough Pain: A Qualitative Study.
abstract: Breakthrough pain is a significant contributor to much suffering by patients. The experience of intense pain may interfere with, and affect, daily life functioning and has major consequences on patients' well-being if it is not well managed. The area of breakthrough pain has not been fully understood. This study thus aimed to explore the experiences of breakthrough pain among palliative patients. A qualitative study based on a series of open-ended interviews among 21 palliative patients suffering from pain at an urban tertiary hospital in Malaysia was conducted. Five themes were generated: (i) pain viewed as an unbearable experience causing misery in the lives of patients, (ii) deterioration of body function and no hope of recovery, (iii) receiving of inadequate pain management for pain, (iv) insensitivity of healthcare providers toward patients' pain experience, and (v) pain coping experiences of patients. The findings revealed that nonpharmacologic approaches such as psychosocial support should be introduced to the patients. Proper guidance and information should be given to healthcare providers to improve the quality of patient care. Healthcare providers should adopt a sensitive approach in caring for patients' needs. The aim is to meet the needs of the patients who want to be pain free or to attain adequate relief of their pain for breakthrough pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: pathmawathi@um.edu.my.
authors.forename: Subramanian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pathmawathi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Tan Seng
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Beng
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Lee Mei
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Roshaslina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosli
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Supermanian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharwend
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Rasaiah R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Kavitha
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Boey Chiong Meng
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Christopher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059390:Breakthrough Pain / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D000072716:Cancer Pain / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010166:Palliative Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D036301:Qualitative Research