Violence and chronic pain in cancer patients in northeastern Mexico.

Abstract

e24113 Background: Chronic cancer pain generates fear and anguish in cancer patients. It is suffered by 64% of patients with metastatic or terminal disease, 59% of patients in early and intermediate stages, and 33% of patients cured from cancer. They require a psychosocial support network. This network has been proposed as an essential tool to reduce the negative impact of the symptoms and psychosocial implications of cancer on the quality of life of patients. Patients with dysfunctional family networks can add to the pain of suffering cancer when they suffered or suffer violence. Cancer and pain test all personal resources and the patient's support network where family functioning is capital for quality of life. Methods: Descriptive, comparative and correlational study. A sample was taken for convenience with the prior consent of the patients who attend the outpatient clinic of the Pain Clinic of the Oncology Service, of the University Center Against Cancer of the University Hospital “Dr. José Eleuterio González” in Nuevo León. The questionnaires were applied during a session of 25 to 30 minutes. It was requested to answer the scales to assess the level of intra-family functioning, intra-family violence, quality of life, measuring psychosocial and health variables; as well as for the detection of the type and quality of psychosocial support perceived by the subjects. Results: A total of 207 research subjects were included in the study, the average age was 49 years of age (minimum 12, maximum 81 years of age), 23% men and 77% women. Marital status: married 52%, home-based 63%; monthly income less than $120 USD (n = 75, 37%). The quality of life index and chronic cancer pain had a high linear correlation with the variables of family violence, psychosocial support, family functioning, somatic symptoms, among other variables studied. Fatigue was the symptom most frequently associated with the decrease in the quality of life index. Conclusions: The satisfaction of perceived social support is a factor associated with the quality of life in patients with chronic cancer pain, however, the number of caregivers is not. There was no relationship between the size of the network and satisfaction with it. Also, the symptoms associated with chronic cancer pain affect the quality of life, identity, social functionality and roles, which in turn impact the quality of life perceived by the patient. This study supports our comprehensive intervention programs and new protocols to promote the quality of life of cancer patients.