The Relationship between Pain Experience and Roy Adaption Model : Application of Theoretical Framework

Abstract

Roy Adaptation Model (RAM) provides knowledge and broad understanding of the person as both a physiological being in a physical world and thinking. According to RAM, the overall goal of nursing is to focus on promoting health of the individual and group by promoting adaptation in each of four adaptive modes: physiological-physical, selfconcept, role function, and interdependence. It could foster nursing knowledge through organized research and it could provide a more organized curriculum. The cancer patients who are under treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy may experience a physical selfdisruption such as fatigue, altered skin integrity, fluid and electrolyte imbalances and physical changes (hair loss). This experience in physiological changes may influence the role function of the patient (social interaction with peers) and changes in the interdependence mode (family); if the families understand how to support the patient, the patient may have an integrated adaptation level. By understanding the relationships among selfconcept, family functioning, functional status, and psychological adaptation, the nurse can identify the factors that lead to mal adaptation, and supportive services can be implemented during the course of cancer treatment. Research that studied the experience of cancer-related pain confirmed that pain is a multidimensional symptom that consists of feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, emotional distress, and has a negative impact on coping mechanism. Also, cancer pain was confirmed by researchers as a complex phenomenon associated with adverse physiologic, psychosocial consequences, (depression, anxiety), cognitive, behavioral, and socio-cultural dimensions. There are many factors associated with cancer related pain such as type of cancer, stage of disease, type of treatment received and location of cancer. Such findings have raised the importance for researchers to study the experience of cancer related-pain in a comprehensive approach using the multidimensional aspects of cancer pain experience.