Examining the cultural appropriateness of an educational intervention program on pain management for patients with cancer in Vietnam

Abstract

Background: Educational interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing cancer pain for patients with cancer. However, there is a lack of educational intervention programs for cancer pain management in Vietnam, and none have been studied or implemented in clinical practice. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the cultural appropriateness and clinical applicability of a pain management educational intervention program modified from PRO-SELF©: Pain Control Program for patients with cancer. Methods: This quantitative descriptive study was conducted from January to June 2022 with 15 experts, including oncologists, nurses with palliative care and pain relief certifications, and pharmacists. Data were collected using a 23-item questionnaire rated on a 5-point scale and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: The program was evaluated for its appropriateness, clinical applicability, and feasibility, resulting in high ratings with an average of 4.49 ± 0.23, 4.56 ± 0.33, and 4.29 ± 0.55, respectively. The general mean score of the items was 4.46 ± 0.22. Experts also provided comments for adjustments to the program, which were incorporated into a revised draft of the intervention program. Conclusions: The pain management educational intervention program for Vietnamese patients with cancer was considered appropriate and clinically applicable by the experts. Further clinical trials can now be conducted to evaluate the program’s effectiveness.