• Qiang Liu, Lu-Lu Gao, Ya-Liang Dai, Yu Wang, Hai-Xia Wang, Xiang-Jiang Luo, Xiao-Min Chai, Guo-Xia Mu, Xiao-Yan Liang, Xi Zhang, Juan Liu, Jian-Qiang Yu, and Yu-Xiang Li.
• School of Nursing, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.
• Pain Manag Nurs. 2018 Oct 1; 19 (5): 506-515.

BackgroundBreakthrough pain is an extremely painful symptom that impairs quality of life in cancer patients. It negatively impacts their emotional wellbeing, physical function, and mental health. The aim of this study is to use a qualitative methodology to examine the perception of cancer patients with breakthrough pain in the Northwest of China.MethodsA semi-structured, face-to-face interview was conducted with nine cancer patients who experienced breakthrough pain; and a qualitative content analysis was performed.ResultsFive themes were generated: (1) sufferings from breakthrough cancer pain, (2) hopelessness and helplessness, (3) perception of breakthrough cancer pain and analgesia, (4) strong as a Chinese, and (5) support needed from health care system.ConclusionAlthough certain traditional cultural worldviews increase patients' acceptance of pain, healthcare providers need proper treatment guidelines to improve the quality of cancer patient care in Northwest China. We recommend that healthcare workers and hospital managers place cancer pain management in higher priority. Relevant pain management education programs should be provided to both healthcare providers and patients to improve their knowledge in these area. Healthcare professionals need to establish a mutual communication channel between patients and healthcare workers to meet patients' needs during breakthrough pain episodes in order to improve pain management. Nevertheless, the government and the healthcare system need to recognize the importance and urgency of palliative care services.Copyright © 2017 American Society for Pain Management Nursing. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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