An individualized intervention to overcome patient-related barriers to pain management in women with gynecologic cancers

Concerns about reporting pain and using analgesics ultimately can contribut e to poor pain management for many individuals. A nursing intervention to a ddress these "patient-related barriers" was developed based on Johnson's se lf-regulation theory. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine whet her provision of individually tailored sensory and coping information about analgesic side effects and specific information to counter misconceptions would enhance pain management In a sample of 43 women with gynecologic canc ers. It was hypothesized that at 1-month post-test and 2-month follow-up, t hose subjects randomized to the information condition would (a) have lower barriers scores; (b) use more adequate analgesic medication; (c) have lower analgesic side effect scores; (d) have lower pain intensity scores; and (e ) experience less pain interference with life and better overall quality of life compared to those in the care-as-usual control group. There was no ma in effect for group on any of the dependent variables. Rather, all women re ported a decrease in barriers between baseline and 2-month follow-up (p<.05 ); all subjects experienced a decrease in pain interference with life score s between baseline and 1-month post-test (p<.05); and there was a significa nt shift of women from unacceptable pain management at baseline to acceptab le pain management at 1-month post-test (p<.05). In addition, the majority of women reported that the intervention contained novel and useful informat ion that helped them to feel more comfortable taking pain medication, to be less concerned about addiction, and helped them talk more openly about pai n with a doctor or nurse. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, I nc.