Journal of Palliative Care & Medicine
Open Access

Research Article

The Effect of Pain Management Education on the Intensity of Pain and Quality of Life of Patients with Cancer

¹Faculty of Nursing, Department of Mental Health &Psychiatric Nursing Department, Community Based Nursing & Midwifery Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

²Razi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

³Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biostatistics, Radiology & Oncology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

⁴Faculty of medicine, Department of Biostatistics, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

⁵Faculty of Nursing, Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

*Corresponding Author:

Farkhondeh Sharif
Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery
Department of Mental Health & Psychiatric Nursing
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Shiraz, P.O.Box: 713451359, Iran
Tel: (+98) 711-6474255, 6474250
Fax: (+98) 711-6474252
E-mail: fsharif@sums.ac.ir

Received date: April 02, 2012; Accepted date: April 25, 2012; Published date: April 27, 2012

Citation: Sharif F, Ansari H, Mosalaee A, Jafaree P, Zinat M (2012) The Effect of Pain Management Education on the Intensity of Pain and Quality of Life of Patients with Cancer. J Palliative Care Med 2:114. doi:10.4172/2165-7386.1000114

Copyright: © 2012 Sharif F, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Context: Pain is the most prevalent symptom experienced by patients with cancer. If left untreated, it can cause complex complications for patients and interfere with their daily life and function, as well as their general quality of life. Objectives: We aimed to assess the effect of pain management education on pain intensity and the quality of life of patients suffering from cancer.
Method: In this semi-experimental study, 60 patients with cancer pain were randomly selected and divided into two groups. The case group participated in pain management education program. Pain intensity was evaluated before intervention, and 2, 4, and 8 weeks after intervention. Also, the patient’s quality of life was evaluated before intervention, and 4 and 8 weeks after intervention.
Results: The case group’s mean pain and worst pain indices had a significant decrease four weeks after intervention. Eight weeks after intervention the mean pain, worst pain, and current pain indices were significantly reduced in the case group. However, two weeks after intervention we observed no significant decrease in the pain intensity indices between the two groups. Four weeks after intervention, there was a significant increase in the mean quality of life, emotional function, physical function, and social function scores in the case group p<0.05. Eight weeks after intervention the case group showed a significant increase in all quality of life, as well as all functional scales p<0.05.
Conclusion: An organized and consistent pain management education program can effectively reduce pain and enhance the quality of life of patients with cancer.

Keywords