The Effect of Pain Management Training on the Severity of Pain in Patients with Cancer: A Clinical Trial Study

Abstract

Background: Pain is the most common and frustrating symptom of cancer. Despite the availability of different guidelines for its management, controlling pain is still not possible. Objectives: The current study aimed at evaluating the effect of pain management education on the severity of pain in patients with cancer. Methods: The current clinical trial (IRCT201403122226N14) was conducted during the year 2014, in association with two hospitals affiliated to Arak University of Medical Sciences in Iran. In this study, 98 patients with cancer were designated to either the intervention or control group. The intervention included six educational sessions and a training manual. The severity of pain in patients was assessed prior to the intervention, and at three and six weeks after the intervention. Results: Data showed that 55.1% of the patients were male and 65.3% were married. The majority (33.67%) were aged 18 to 30 years old. At the beginning of the study, the study population was homogenous for the demographic variables and severity of pain (P = 0.871). The mean (SD) score of pain severity in the intervention group before, at three, and six weeks after the intervention was 30.18 (8.18), 17.46.18 (11.10), and 16.51 (10.83), respectively (P < 0.001). The mean (SD) score of pain severity in the control group before, at three, and six weeks after the intervention was 30.44 (8.007), and 75.7 (10.9), 30.08 (8.37) and 29.95(8.49) respectively (P = 0.955). After the intervention, a significant difference was observed in the severity of pain between the groups (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The results showed that pain management training could reduce the severity of pain in patients with cancer. Therefore pain management training could be designed for patients with cancer in order to promote their quality of life.