A model for cognitive-behavioral interventions in cancer pain management.

Purpose: To propose a model for predicting success with cognitive-behavioral interventions in cancer pain management. Practice guidelines are useful, however nurses currently have little theoretic or empiric basis for choosing one particular strategy over another. Moreover, nurses have no way of knowing if a particular intervention is likely to work.

Organizing construct: The model indicates characteristics of a person in relation to interventions including skill and ability, outcome expectancies, perceived credibility, history of use, preferred coping style, and pain outcomes.

Sources: The model was developed using sources identified through a literature search of relevant topics in MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Psychlit (1996-1997), as well as through clinical experience.

Conclusions: Continued empiric testing of the model is necessary to confirm proposed relationships and to assess accuracy of the model's predictions with various cognitive-behavioral interventions. With this testing, the model can help nurses select appropriate interventions for individual patients.