The impact of pain control on physical and psychiatric functions of cancer patients: a nation-wide survey in Taiwan

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence of pain in cancer patients at different disease statuses, the impact of pain on physical and psychiatric functions of patients and the satisfaction of pain control of patients at outpatient clinic department in Taiwan.MethodsShort form of the Brief Pain Inventory was used as the outcome questionnaire. Unselected patients of different cancers and different disease statuses at outpatient clinic department were included. The impacts of their current pain control on physical function, psychiatric function and the satisfaction of doctors were evaluated. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate whether the interference scale performed identically in the different analgesic ladders. The dependent variables were satisfaction toward physician and treatment.ResultsA total of 14 sites enrolled 2075 patients in the study. One thousand and fifty-one patients reported pain within the last 1 week. In patients whose diseases deteriorated, >60% of them need analgesics for pain control. Pain influenced physical and psychiatric functions of patients, especially in the deteriorated status. More than 80% of patients were satisfied about current pain control, satisfaction rate related to disease status, pain intensities and treatments for pain.ConclusionOur study found that different cancers at different statuses had pain at variable severity. Pain can influence physical and psychological functions significantly. More than 75% of subjects reported satisfaction over physician and pain management in outpatient clinic department patients with cancer pain in Taiwan.

Satisfaction with pain management and impact of pain on quality of life in cancer patients

“…Mean age, proportion of primary cancer sites, and prevalence of metastasis were comparable between the two studies (Table ). However, the overall prevalence was significantly lower in our study, whereas the mean pain severity scores were not significantly different between this survey and the 2008 study (Table ). Furthermore, cancer‐specific scores in the present analysis were not significantly different from those in 2008, except for hematologic cancers or lymphomas; patients had significantly higher scores in 2014 than in 2008 3 (3.54 ± 1.91 vs 2.85 ± 1.73, respectively; P = 0.0029).…”

“…In addition, this study mirrored a similar study conducted in 2008, and the results from both were compared to identify trends. Compared with the 2008 study, a greater proportion of the patients were men in the current study. Mean age, proportion of primary cancer sites, and prevalence of metastasis were comparable between the two studies (Table ).…”

“…A meta‐analysis published in 2007 found a 53% prevalence rate of pain in cancer patients at all disease stages, 64% in those with more advanced disease, and 33% even in those after curative treatment . In 2008, a cross‐sectional survey study conducted in Taiwan revealed that 73% of cancer patients with progressive disease had experienced pain during the previous week . Severity of pain is also of great concern.…”

“…2 In 2008, a cross-sectional survey study conducted in Taiwan revealed that 73% of cancer patients with progressive disease had experienced pain during the previous week. 3 Severity of pain is also of great concern. A pan-European survey found that 56% of cancer patients suffered moderate to severe pain at least monthly and 36% of patients deemed their pain intolerable.…”

“…Furthermore, cancer-specific scores in the present analysis were not significantly different from those in 2008, except for hematologic cancers or lymphomas; patients had significantly higher scores in 2014 than in 2008 3 (3.54 ± 1.91 vs 2.85 ± 1.73, respectively; P = 0.0029). Patients with head and neck cancer had the numerically highest mean total pain severity score of all cancer types in both 20083 and 2014 (3.60 ± 2.01 and 3.71 ± 1.84, respectively; P = 0.5464). Study results suggest that the prevalence of pain in cancer patients is lower in Taiwan than in other parts of the world.…”