Pain and Pain Management in Hospitalized Cancer Patients

Kim, Mi Jung; Park, Jin A; Shin, Su Jin

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to provide basic data for proper pain management. METHOD: Data were collected from 85 hospitalized patients with cancer pain. A retrospective chart review of level of pain, source of pain, verbal expression of pain, and pain management was done. The data were analyzed with the SPSS program.
RESULTS
The level of pain measured by NRS at the three time points was as follows: Time 1 (4.40+/-2.25), Time 2 (0.61+/-1.30), Time 3 (2.47+/-2.75). The kinds of pain were somatic pain (51.8%), visceral pain (37.6%), neuropathic pain (12.9%). The analgesic amount measured by OME (oral morphine equivalent) was as follows: Time 1 (70.85+/-69.65), Time 2 (91.61+/-89.20), Time 3 (96.71+/-94.25). Degree of pain had significant differences according to type of cancer (F=-3.286, p= .002), cancer origin (F=2.906, p= .018), and metastasis (F=2.906, p= .018) at Time 2. Best control period had significant difference according to type of cancer (F=2.373, p= .023), and origin of cancer (F=2.466, p= .040) at Time 2.
CONCLUSION
These finding will enable the application of nursing interventions for pain control in cancer patients, identification of kinds of nursing compared to priorities, and increased levels of comfort in cancer patients in clinical settings.