Pain Intensity and Satisfaction of Pain Relief in Discharged Cancer Patients: A Large Sample Study in China

Background

Many studies have focused on the quality of pain management in hospitalized patients with cancer pain, while what happens after discharge remains unclear.

Aim

The purpose of this study was to investigate the pain intensity and satisfaction of pain relief among a large sample of Chinese patients with cancer pain after discharge.

Design

Cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational research.

Settings and Sample: About

1,013 patients were recruited in a tertiary cancer hospital, and their residence addresses were distributed in 6 geographical regions, including 26 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions.

Methods

The 1,013 patients with cancer pain were discharged from the wards of a national cancer hospital in China from July 2020 to October 2021. A nurse in the pain clinic followed the patients based on a whole-process information system and collected the data after the cancer pain patients were discharged. The study methods followed the STROBE guidelines.

Results

The average age of 1,013 discharged patients was 61.30 (±12.56) years. Moderate and severe background pain (BGP) was reported in 749 patients (73.94%), and more than 3 instances of breakthrough pain (BTP) in the past 24 hours were reported in 541 patients (53.41%). More severe BGP was associated with more frequent BTP (p < .01). In addition, there were 572 patients (56.47%) whose satisfaction with pain relief was lower than 70%. More severe BGP was associated with a lower satisfaction degree (r = −0.796, p < .01).

Conclusions

Pain among discharged Chinese patients with cancer is poorly managed, and there is a low degree of satisfaction with pain relief. Nurses can do more work to assist cancer patients in managing pain more effectively by ensuring they have a plan to report and manage pain after discharge.