| 1. |
- Boström, Barbro, et al.
(författare)
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A comparison of pain and health-related quality of life between two groups of cancer patients with differing average levels of pain
- 2003
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Nursing. - Chichester : Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc.. - 0962-1067 .- 1365-2702. ; 12:5, s. 726-735
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A study was performed to describe and compare pain and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) in two groups of cancer patients in palliative care as well as to describe the correlation between pain and HRQOL. ○ Forty-seven patients with mild average pain [Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) < 3] and 28 patients with moderate to severe average pain (VAS > 3) were included. Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36) was used to evaluate HRQOL, pain intensity levels were measured with the VAS on Pain-O-Meter. ○ Compared to patients with mild pain, patients with moderate to severe pain had statistically significant, higher pain intensity for the items 'pain at time of interview', 'worst pain in the past 24 hours' and 'pain interrupting sleep.' They also had the lowest scores of the SF-36 dimensions: physical functioning, role-physical, and bodily pain. Patients with moderate to severe pain had statistically significant, fewer months of survival. There were statistically significant positive correlations between pain items and negative correlation between pain and SF-36 dimensions. ○ The conclusion is that pain has a negative impact on HRQOL, especially on physical health and that pain increases towards the final stages of life. Even if patients have to endure symptoms such as fatigue and anxiety during their short survival time, dealing with pain is an unnecessary burden, which can be prevented.
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| 2. |
- Boström, Barbro, et al.
(författare)
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Cancer patients' experiences of care related to pain management before and after palliative care referral
- 2004
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Ingår i: European Journal of Cancer Care. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0961-5423 .- 1365-2354. ; 13:3, s. 238-245
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Pain is the main problem for patients with cancer referred to palliative care (PC). Pain management in PC requires a multidimensional approach. A questionnaire was used to determine cancer patients' experiences of care related to pain management, before and after being referred to PC, and to also discover possible correlations between pain control and other aspects of care. Seventy-five consecutive patients from two PC teams were included in the study. The patients had experienced a statistically significant (P < 0.01) improvement in care after being referred to PC, despite the fact that pain control had not been optimized. Patients' description of 'pain control' after being referred to PC had a statistically significant correlation with their 'feeling of security' and 'continuity of care' throughout the same period. The conclusion is that care provided in PC is vital to successful pain management. Pain control depends not only on analgesics but also on many other aspects of care provided by the nurse. Continuity of care and the opportunity to talk increases the patients' feeling of security, which is also of utmost importance to successful pain management.
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| 3. |
- Boström, Barbro, et al.
(författare)
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Cancer-related pain in palliative care : patients' perceptions of pain management
- 2004
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Ingår i: Journal of Advanced Nursing. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 0309-2402 .- 1365-2648. ; 45:4, s. 410-419
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Pain is still a significant problem for many patients with cancer, despite numerous, clear and concise guidelines for the treatment of cancer-related pain. The impact of pain cognition on patients' experiences of cancer-related pain remains relatively unexplored. Aim: The aim of this study was to describe how patients with cancer-related pain in palliative care perceive the management of their pain. Method: Thirty patients were strategically selected for interviews with open-ended questions, designed to explore the pain and pain management related to their cancer. The interviews were analysed using a phenomenographic approach. Findings: Patients described 10 different perceptions of pain and pain management summarized in the three categories: communication, planning and trust. In terms of communication, patients expressed a need for an open and honest dialogue with health care professionals about all problems concerning pain. Patients expressed an urgent need for planning of their pain treatment including all caring activities around them. When they felt trust in the health care organization as a whole, and in nurses and physicians in particular, they described improved ability and willingness to participate in pain management. While the findings are limited to patients in palliative care, questions are raised about others with cancer-related pain without access to a palliative care team. Conclusion: The opportunity for patients to discuss pain and its treatment seems to have occurred late in the course of disease, mostly not until coming in contact with a palliative care team. They expressed a wish to be pain-free, or attain as much pain relief as possible, with as few side effects as possible.
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| 4. |
- Boström, Barbro, et al.
(författare)
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Pain and health-related quality of life among cancer patients in final stage of life : a comparison between two palliative care teams
- 2003
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Ingår i: Journal of Nursing Management. - Chichester, West Sussex : Blackwell Publishing. - 0966-0429 .- 1365-2834. ; 11:3, s. 189-196
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A two-centred descriptive study was performed in order to describe and compare pain and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among cancer patients, in their final stage of life. The patients were cared for by either a nurse-led palliative care team I (PCT I) or a physician-led palliative care team II (PCT II). Forty-six consecutive, stratified patients (PCT I, n = 21 and PCT II, n = 25) participated. The medical outcomes study short form 36 (SF-36) was used for evaluating HRQOL and the Pain-O-Meter for assessing pain. Patients' pain intensity, pain quality and HRQOL showed no significant difference between the two groups PCT I and PCT II. The patients from PCT I had significantly longer survival time (P = 0.017) than those from PCT II. The different composition of the teams being led by nurses or physicians is worth further research; both from the patient's and staff's viewpoint, there may also be cost-benefits worth examining.
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