The Characteristics and the Pharmacological Management of Cancer Pain and Its Effect on the Patients’ Daily Activities and their Quality of Life: A Cross – Sectional study from Malaysia
Context: Pain is a major health care problem for the patients with cancer and one of the most frequent and disturbing cancer related symptoms. Aim: To study the characteristics of pain in cancer patients and its pharmacological management by using a subjective selfassessment questionnaire and th...
Main Authors: | , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
2013-07-01
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Series: | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/3148/35%20-%205450_PF1(M)_E(C)_F(T)_F1(V)_F1(T)_PF1(PUH)_PFA(H)_U(P).pdf |
Summary: | Context: Pain is a major health care problem for the patients
with cancer and one of the most frequent and disturbing cancer
related symptoms.
Aim: To study the characteristics of pain in cancer patients and
its pharmacological management by using a subjective selfassessment questionnaire and the World Health Organization
(WHO)analgesic ladder for pain management.
Settings and Designs: This study was conducted in the
Oncology Wards of Penang Hospital, Penang, Malaysia. A questionnaire was developed to assess the pain characteristics and
their effect on the patients’ daily life activities and the information
on the pharmacological management of the cancer pain. The
cancer pain intensity was noted from the patients’ medical
database.
Material and Methods: By using the validated questionnaire,
an observational, cross sectional study was conducted on the
cancer patientswho were admitted in the oncology wards of
Penang Hospital, Malaysia, for a period of 1 month.
Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistics like mean, frequency
and percentages were used for this study.
Results and Conclusion: A total of 42 patients out of 143, who
fulfilled the criteria, were interviewed. The results showed mild
pain in 66.7% (28) of the patients, moderate pain in 7.1% (3)
and severe painin 26.2% (11). The normal daily life activities
were affected by the pain in almost all the patients. Among
the interviewed patients, sleep was affected in 88% (37) of the
patients and the normal physical activity was affected in 92.9%
(39) of the patients. Similarly, the pain decreased the appetite in
78.6% (33) of the patients, it affected the personal relationship in
35.7% (15), it affected the emotion in 71.5% (30) and it affected
the visual activity in 33.6% (13) of the patients. Mild pain with
distressing symptoms was not treated with any analgesic or
adjuvant medications in 40.5% (17) of the patients. In contrast,
all the patients with moderate and severe pain were treated
with medications. Among them, 66.7% (2) of the patients with
moderate pain and 90.9% (10) of the patients with severe pain
were treated with analgesics as per the WHO analgesic ladder.
The WHO analgesic ladder guide for pain management was
followed in a majority of the cases, when analgesics were prescribed. However, there was inadequate treatment of the cancer
pain in many patients with mild pain and, consequently, their
quality of life was largely affected. |
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ISSN: | 2249-782X 0973-709X |