Cancer-related pain management: A review of knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals

Abstract

Cancer-related pain (CRP) is common and many patients continue to experience pain in spite of advances in pain management modalities. The lack of knowledge, inadequate assessment of CRP and/or organisational factors, such as lack of time due to heavy workload, can be a barrier to effective pain management of healthcare professionals. The purpose was to examine the evidence with regard to the knowledge and attitudes towards practice of healthcare professionals in relation to CRP management. A search of the literature (1999-2015) was conducted searching databases and journals including CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, Science Direct and Wiley-Blackwell. The initial search revealed a total of 99 articles and following removal of those that did not meet the inclusion criteria, 19 articles were included in the final review. Recognition of the widespread under treatment of CRP has prompted recent corrective efforts in terms of education from healthcare professionals, however, there is a continuing deficit in healthcare professionals' knowledge with regard to CRP management and indicated that healthcare professionals still have negative attitudes that hinder the delivery of quality care to patients suffering from CRP. Further research on how and where education on this topic should be delivered is required.

Optimizing cancer pain management in resource-limited settings

“…Thus, these studies did not provide an all-encompassing educational intervention that results in improved patient outcomes. While educational efforts initiated by hospitals or institutions can improve knowledge and attitudes of HCPs, these changes may not necessarily be reflected by the changes in practice, highlighting the need for a more directed educational effort that includes practical elements [ 41 ]. Our educational program is intended to illustrate how HCPs can still provide optimal pain management for their patients despite working with varied resource constraints/limitations while still following evidence-based international guidelines.…”

Knowledge and attitudes regarding cancer pain management among oncology nurses in China

“…Reports thus far are largely from Western countries. 7 For example, a study by Hroch et al 8 found that knowledge and attitudes regarding cancer pain management varied among practicing institutes and according to the language used, as well as the prior experience of nurses caring for patients with pain. Studies among Chinese oncology nurses are lacking.…”

Treatment of Pain in Cancer: Towards Personalised Medicine

“…It is not known why health care professionals are reluctant to consequently measure pain in patients with cancer. Possibly, the lack of knowledge and confidence to administer analgesia effectively [17] and/or underestimating the influence of pain in daily life [18] contribute to poor pain assessment in patients with cancer.…”

“…A review of the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals towards cancer-related pain concluded that there is a continuing deficit in professional knowledge regarding cancer pain but also that many of the studies that investigated the effect of educational programmes on healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitude, and/or practice failed to show an improvement in knowledge, attitude, and/or practice [17]. A discrepancy between self-assessment and actual practice in cancer pain management by medical oncologists, indicating that specialised physicians are not fully aware of their knowledge deficiencies, has been reported [24].…”