An investigation into pain in cancer patients
Date
2020
Authors
Robinson, Rowan Paula
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Abstract
Introduction:
Nurses play an important role in cancer treatment delivery, patient information and symptom
management, as well as psychological and supportive care. As nurses spend the greatest
portion of time caring for patients, they are ideally placed to routinely assess the patient’s pain
and response to treatment.
Purpose:
The purpose of the study was to provide baseline data that could be used to develop a
patient informed pain assessment instrument used by nurses practicing in cancer care
settings for South African cancer patients.
Objectives:
The first objective of the study was to explore which pain assessment instruments are
available to assess cancer pain, their characteristics and comparison against the criteria of
an ideal instrument. The second objective was to describe how cancer patients experience
and describe their pain and what they consider essential for nurses to know about their pain.
Methods:
A sequential multi-method study was conducted in two parts: a scoping review and in-depth
interviews were used to gather data.
Findings:
None of the nineteen identified instruments met the criteria of an ideal pain assessment
instrument, and even the ideal criteria as provided by the African Palliative Care Association
(2010) and Farrer (2007), appeared to be incomplete and should be updated. The study
provided evidence of the participants’ experience of cancer pain and what brings relief from
the pain. They described their need for information and communication as well as support
and compassionate care. Finally participants described what nurses need to know about
their cancer pain experience.
Conclusion:
Cancer pain is complex, with physical, emotional and psychosocial factors having a profound
influence on the unique and personal experience of cancer pain. The successful
management of cancer pain is dependent on thorough assessment, re-assessment, measurement of pain intensity, interpretation of findings and appropriate treatment of the
pain including both pharmacological and non-pharmacological options
Description
A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, 2020
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Citation
Robinson, Rowan Paula (2020) An investigation into pain in cancer patients, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, <http://hdl.handle.net/10539/30462>