• Su-Jin Koh, Bhumsuk Keam, Min Kyung Hyun, Jeong Ju Seo, Uk ParkKeonKDepartment of Hematology/Oncology, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, Republic of Korea., Sung Yong Oh, Jinseok Ahn, Ja Youn Lee, and JinShil Kim.
• Department of Hematology and Oncology, Ulsan University College of Medicine and Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, Republic of Korea.
• Pain Med. 2018 Dec 1; 19 (12): 2546-2555.

ObjectivesMore than half of the patients have reported improper management of breakthrough cancer pain. Empirical evidence is lacking concerning the effectiveness of cancer pain education on breakthrough pain control. This study aimed to examine the effects of individual pain education on pain control, use of short-acting analgesics for breakthrough pain, quality of life outcomes, and rectification of patients' misconceptions regarding cancer pain.DesignA quasi-experimental design was used. In total, 176 (102 inpatients and 74 outpatients) and 163 (93 inpatients and 70 outpatients) cancer patients completed questionnaires on pain intensity, quality of life, use of short-acting medication for breakthrough pain, and misconceptions about cancer pain and opioid use before and immediately and/or seven days after individual pain education.ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 60.9 years (±11.2), and 56.3% were male. The most common cancers were lung cancer (17.0%), colon cancer (15.9%), and breast cancer (12.5%). The subjects' reasons for attrition were conditional deterioration, death, or voluntary withdrawal (N = 13, 7.4%). Following the education, there was a significant reduction in overall pain intensity over 24 hours (P < 0.001). The outpatients showed more use of short-acting analgesics for breakthrough pain. Sleep quality change was most significantly associated with intervention; other quality of life aspects (e.g., general feelings and life enjoyment) also improved. Pain education also significantly reduced misconceptions regarding cancer pain management.ConclusionsThe present educational intervention was effective in encouraging short-acting analgesic use for breakthrough pain, improving quality of life outcomes, and rectifying patients' misconceptions about analgesic use.

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