J Korean Oncol Nurs.  2009 Aug;9(2):104-113.

Pain Management Knowledge and Attitude of Hospitalized Patients with Cancer and Their Family Caregivers

• Kim M
• Park YH
• Park D
• Hwang Y
• Chang HK

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to investigate pain management knowledge and attitude in cancer patients and their family caregivers.
METHODS
The subjects were 52 hospitalized cancer patients and 52 their family caregivers in a hematooncologic unit in one general hospital. Data were collected via self-reported questionnaires and interviews in 2008.
RESULTS
46.2% of the patient participants reported pain and 50% of them were taking opioid analgesics. Levels of knowledge about cancer pain and its management in both patient and caregiver participants were low, whereas, the scores of knowledge of the caregivers were significantly higher than that of the patients. The attitudes toward cancer pain were not significantly different between patients and caregivers. Both cancer patients and caregivers had some misconcepts in using opioid analgesics and about cancer pain. Patients' and caregivers' level of knowledge about cancer pain and its mangement demonstrated positive correlation.
CONCLUSION
Education about cancer pain and its management should target both cancer patients and their family caregivers. Also the education should focus on intervening the misconceptions that patients and their caregivers have regarding cancer pain and its management

Keyword

Cancer; Family caregivers; Knowledge; Attitude; Pain

MeSH Terms

Analgesics, Opioid
Caregivers
Hospitals, General
Humans
Pain Management
Surveys and Questionnaires
Analgesics, Opioid