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Pain experience and pain management among hospitalized cancer patients. A clinical study
Author(s) -
Dorrepaal Karin L.,
Aaronson Neil K.,
Van Dam Frits S. A. M.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19890201)63:3<593::aid-cncr2820630332>3.0.co;2-5
Subject(s) - medicine , cancer pain , mood , pain management , physical therapy , cancer , pain catastrophizing , sleep disorder , chronic pain , psychiatry , insomnia
This study examines the nature, pattern, and consequences of pain experienced by cancer patients, both during hospitalization and during the immediate posthospitalization period. Of the 240 hospitalized cancer patients screened, 45% were found to be in pain. Although 59% of these patients had found ways to reduce their pain, nearly one third reported being seriously limited in their daily activities. Sleep disorder and mood disturbance also were related to the experience of pain. Applied pain management strategies were rated by two physicians as inadequate in 54% of cases. The most frequent recommendation for improved pain management was an increase in the dosage or a change in the class of analgesics. The importance of periodic assessment of pain and its consequences, both physical and psychological, is discussed in light of increasing the level of information available to physicians and patients regarding appropriate approaches to pain management.