The cancer pain experience of Israeli adults 65 years and older: the influence of pain interference, symptom severity, and knowledge and attitudes on pain and pain control

Abstract

Little is known about Israeli elders' cancer pain experience. The purpose of this study was to explore the cancer pain experience, including pain intensity, pain management index, pain interference, symptom severity, and knowledge and attitudes toward pain and pain control. Descriptive cross-sectional methods were used to obtain data with four instruments. The patients were 39 Israelis 65 years and older who were receiving outpatient treatment for cancer in a major hospital center in Israel. Results showed that over half (56.7%) reported severe worst pain and had negative pain management indexes (56.4%). In addition, knowledge and attitudes toward pain and pain control were poor (54.55%). There were no significant relationships between pain intensity and other variables. However, pain interference demonstrated a significant positive relationship with symptom severity. Post hoc analysis revealed that Ashkenazi Jewish and more educated patients reported significantly less pain interference than Sephardic Jewish patients. Larger samples representative of the cultural differences in Israel are needed to more definitively identify elements of the cancer pain experience in Israeli elders that can be addressed to improve pain management.