• A Riddell and M I Fitch.
• Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
• Oncol Nurs Forum. 1997 Nov 1;24(10):1775-84.

Purpose/ObjectivesTo examine patients' knowledge of and attitudes toward the management of cancer pain and to identify, from the patients' perspectives, factors contributing to effective and ineffective pain relief.DesignDescriptive, correlational.SettingAmbulatory care oncology facility in Canada.SampleConvenience sample of 42 patients receiving oral pain medication for chronic cancer-related pain.MethodsParticipants completed a modified version of the Patient Pain Questionnaire and a demographic questionnaire and responded to two open-ended questions.Main Research VariablesPatients' knowledge of and attitudes toward cancer pain management and their perceptions of factors contributing to effective and ineffective pain relief.FindingsMany patients locked knowledge of the principles involved in effective cancer pain management and had unrealistic concerns about taking pain medications. Significant negative relationships were found between pain intensity ratings and factors such as patients' knowledge of pain management, their level of satisfaction with pain relief, and their perception of the goal of pain management. Patients identified a number of impediments to effective pain relief, including concerns about addiction and various side effects to pain medications.ConclusionsMany patients have inadequate knowledge about the management of cancers pain and have unrealistic concerns about taking pain medications, both of which have been identified in the literature as barriers to effective cancer pain management.Implications For Nursing PracticeA need exists for patient education that addresses patients' misconceptions and concerns about using pain medications and the principles involved in effective cancer pain management.

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