Nurses' Perceptions of Pain Management Facilitators for Cancer Patients: A Qualitative Study.

Abstract

Purpose: Pain is a common symptom in cancer patients. It negatively impacts their emotional well-being, cognitive function, and daily communication, thereby reducing their overall quality of life. To enhance the quality of life of patients and their families, healthcare providers need to understand the factors that facilitate effective pain management. This study aimed to explore nurses' perceptions of the factors that facilitate pain management in cancer patients.

Methods: The current research constitutes a qualitative conventional content analysis study conducted from January 2023 to June 2023. The study participants comprised head nurses, clinical nurses and clinical supervisior, totaling 27 individuals selected through purposive sampling. Data collection involved individual, in-depth, and semi-structured interviews. Subsequently, data analysis was performed utilizing the approach outlined by Graneheim and Lundman (2004), leading to the identification of participants' perspectives.

Results: According to the nurses' perspective, two main categories of factors emerged that facilitate pain management. These categories are emotional support, which includes subcategories of family support and peer support, and organizational support, which includes subcategories of experienced nurses, accessible facilities, and financial support for patients.

Conclusions: The study findings highlight the importance of identifying factors that facilitate pain management in cancer patients to enhance their quality of life. These facilitators involve factors related to patients and their families, factors related to healthcare service providers, and various components of the health system. Therefore, strengthening the facilitators associated with each of these factors is critical in pain management and addressing any deficiencies in the health care system.