The lens model - Assessment of cancer pain in a Chinese context

Citation
Jwy. Chung et al., The lens model - Assessment of cancer pain in a Chinese context, CANCER NURS, 23(6), 2000, pp. 454-461
Citations number
35
Categorie Soggetti
Public Health & Health Care Science
Journal title
CANCER NURSING
ISSN journal
0162220X → ACNP
Volume
23
Issue
6
Year of publication
2000
Pages
454 - 461
Database
ISI
SICI code
0162-220X(200012)23:6<454:TLM-AO>2.0.ZU;2-S
Abstract
Obtaining a result closest to patients' reports about pain is crucial in pa in management. The literature in the West supports the view that there are cultural differences in perception, interpretation, and expression of pain. However, there has been minimal review in Chinese communities. Therefore, the concepts of cancer pain among Chinese patients with cancer were explore d by data source triangulation. There were 33 informants: 18 adult Chinese patients with cancer who were in pain, 7 physicians, and 8 nurses. The inte rview dialogue was transcribed into written Chinese, followed by coding and categorization. There were no predetermined themes for categorization. The dialogue was coded according to the contextual meaning. The nature and num ber of categories depended entirely on the coding. Five dimensions were ide ntified: functional, pharmacologic, pain belief and meanings, psychosocial, and emotional. With reference to the five dimensions, a lens model was con structed to explain the cancer pain experience in a Chinese concert. In the lens model, two lenses were used to illustrate the relations of the dimens ions and cancer pain experience in the Chinese context. The pain experience was named as total pain intensity. The Functional, pharmacologic, psychoso cial, and emotional dimensions were the independent variables. The pain bel iefs and meanings dimension was the mediating variable, and the dependent v ariable was the total pain intensity in the assessment of cancer pain.