Patients' and Nurses' Barriers Regarding Cancer Pain Management: Strategies to Overcome

Abstract

Background: Cancer pain affects millions of patients world-wide, according to the Egyptian National Cancer Institute, the prevalence of cancer-related pain is varied between 20% to 50% of patients. Barriers to effective pain control are related to the healthcare system, healthcare providers, and patients, although pain considered as the 5th vital sign, it is still has serious deficits in managing cancer pain related barriers overcoming barriers to effective cancer pain management calls for increased attention and strong efforts.  Aim: The aim of this study was to: (1) identify patients' and nurses' barriers to cancer pain management and (2) develop and implement nursing strategies to overcome patients' and nurses' barriers to cancer pain management. Methodology: A quazi experimental design was utilized for conducting the study. A convenience sample of 100 adult cancer patients and 20 nurses working at nuclear medicine unit at kasr Al-Ani Educational Hospital. Data were collected through six tools; (1) A Self-Administered Questionnaire Format for Nurses, (2) An Observational Checklist Format, (3) A Self-Administered Questionnaire Format for Patients, (4) Numeric pain rating scale (NPRC) Cleland, Childs & Whitman (2007), (5) Patients' Barriers Questionnaire and (6) Patient educational interventions. Results: Patients' and nurses' barriers regarding cancer pain management improved after implementing nursing strategies. Conclusion: Implementation of nursing strategies was associated with reducing the patients' and nurses' barriers related to cancer pain management. Recommendations: Ongoing training and educational opportunities for both patients and nurse should be available to ensure implementation of nursing strategies to overcome barriers related to cancer pain management.

Keywords: Patients' and Nurses' Barriers, Cancer Pain Management, Strategies