Patient-Related Factors to Pain Management among Mongolian Cancer Patients

Abstract

Pain is one of the most common symptoms of cancer and approximately 25-75% of cancer patients experience pain. A patient who is experiencing pain plays an important role in identifying and assessing pain as well as in managing it. This study aimed to identify levels of anxiety, depression, beliefs on pain and analgesics, pain intensity, pain interference and adequacy of a pain management index and to examine their relationships among Mongolian cancer patients. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used in this research. Data from convenience sampling of 145 cancer patients were collected from three hospitals and three hospices from February 19 to March 5, 2016. The independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearsons correlation were performed using the SPSS 23.0 program. Among the participants, levels of both anxiety and depression were mild. Middle-aged patients were more anxious, while lung cancer patients, stage-IV cancer patients, and palliative care patients were more depressed. The highest concerns were fatalism, tolerance of analgesics, and monitoring disease progression. Patients who experienced cancer recurrence had fewer misbeliefs on pain and analgesics. Patients who were middle-aged, had completed high school education, lived in an urban setting, or were receiving hospice care reported higher levels of pain intensity and interferences. Patients who were religious or were receiving curative treatment had less pain intensity. High-income patients reported more pain interference. Fifty (34.4%) patients were under-treated for pain control, and they had higher rates of anxiety, depression, concern on immune system, fear of addiction, pain intensity, and pain interference. Patients who were female, non-religious, diagnosed with lung or cervical cancer, or were receiving curative treatment were more likely to be inadequately treated for pain control. As correlational study, patients who had higher levels of misbeliefs on pain and analgesics, pain intensity and interference were inadequately treated. The findings of the present study can be used to enhance effective communication between patients and their health professionals, provide guidance for educating patients on their illness and pain, and develop interventions to reduce patient-related factors influencing inadequate pain management. This study enriches knowledge in pain management among Mongolian cancer patients and may help health care providers and patients be aware of patient-related factors influencing pain management