Design and application of cancer pain pocket diary

Abstract

Objective To design a pocket diary for cancer pain patients, to explore the effect on improving their knowledge about pain control, and make them actively participate in cancer pain control activities. Methods The study was performed in Sichuan Cancer Hospital, it was conducted on 299 cancer patients, who were randomly divided into the experimental group (156 cases) and the control group (143 cases), undergoing moderate-to-severe cancer pain in six standardized pain control demonstration wards. Patients from the experimental group recorded their adverse reactions and general routine care, with a cancer pain pocket diary, and the patients in the control group only got the general routine care. A questionnaire was used to test their level of cancer pain knowledge and degree of satisfaction before discharge. Results There was no significant difference in the pain assessment and drug use between the two groups (P>0.05). The scores of adverse reactions prevention, adverse reactions report and misunderstanding identification of the experimental group were (15.84±1.70), (15.84±1.70) and (18.52±1.16), respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the control group (t=5.25, 2.38, 13.53, respectively; P<0.05). In the experimental group, 98 patients were quite satisfied, 55 patients were satisfied, 3 patients were not satisfied. There was a significant difference between the two groups (Z=8.87, P<0.05). Conclusions The cancer pain pocket diary could improve the cancer patients′ knowledge about pain control, and make them actively participate in cancer pain control activities. Key words: Satisfaction; Health education; Cancer pain; Pocket diary