Pain evaluation in patients under chemotherapy: application of McGill pain Questionnaire

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cancer pain is common in patients under chemotherapy and there is the need for a multiprofessional therapeutic plan, especially for nursing assistance, in the attempt to control it. This study aimed at evaluating qualitative pain characteristics of cancer patients under chemotherapy, by means of the McGill Pain Questionnaire. METHODS: This is a quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study made up of 23 participants under chemotherapy with cancer pain. Data were collected by means of McGill Pain Questionnaire in a High Complexity Assistance Unit of a city of Minas Gerais. RESULTS: Most participants were females, Caucasian, with basic education, affected by more advanced breast cancer. Burning and sore were the most prevalent descriptors in sensory pain category. Among affective descriptors, tiresome and sickening were the most prevalent. Troublesome pain has prevailed as evaluative characteristic and for miscellaneous descriptors, most prevalent were radiating and nauseating. CONCLUSION: Scales to evaluate qualitative pain aspects favor nursing assistance, providing tailored assistance aimed at the complaint of each patient. Their competences allow the use of this tool aiming at increasingly qualifying its practice, thus improving quality of life of patients or, at least, decreasing their distress.