7 Despite understanding the influence of pain on clinical outcomes, pain is often undertreated in patients with cancer. 6 Inversely, increased symptom monitoring and patient self-reporting of pain has been shown to improve HRQOL, decrease unexpected health care utilization, and improve adherence to antineoplastic treatment. 5 Poor pain control is also associated with more psychological distress and decreased social activities and social support. Poor communication between providers and patients regarding pain control can decrease patient satisfaction. 3, 4 In addition, the experience of pain can either positively or negatively influence patient outcomes. The presence and severity of pain has important clinical implications, for pain as a variable contributing to health-related quality of life (HRQOL) provides prognostic information for survival. 1 Although in some areas of the world the major barrier to pain control is adequate access to opioids, 2 even in areas where opioids are available, pain remains prevalent in patients with cancer and has a significant impact on clinical outcomes. A recent review of 40 years of literature revealed that 64% of patients with advanced or metastatic cancer report pain 59% of patients currently receiving anticancer treatment report pain, and one-third of patients have pain even after completing curative treatment.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |