CN92 - Pain monitoring and assessment in oncology: A best practice implementation project

Background

During cancer treatment, pain is common symptom, with approximately one third of patients not receiving appropriate analgesia proportional to the intensity of the pain. This poor management of pain has negative consequences in cancer patients and is associated with reduced quality of life. Therefore, there is a need to carry out an evidence implementation project with the aim to determine current compliance with best practice recommendations for the monitoring and assessment of pain in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Methods

This study used the Joanna Briggs Institute– Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System and Getting Research into Practice (GRiP) methodology. Which involves the following steps: Step1- Identify the practice area; Step 2- Involve change agents; Step 3- Assess context and readiness to change; Step 4- Review practice against evidence-based audit criteria; Step 5- Implement changes in practice using GRiP; Step 6- Reassess the practice using a follow-up audit and Step 7- The sustainability of the project.

Results

In the initial audit, the results displayed that the seven audit criteria had low compliance. For example: only 47% of patients with cancer were carried out an initial pain assessment; there was no written documentation available about cancer pain and its management to provide to patients and/or their caregivers and just 38% of health professionals had specific training on pain in cancer patients. Several strategies have been implemented to change the clinical practice with the point of improving compliance rates. A post-implementation audit related to evidence-based practice was carried out and compliance levels increased compared to the initial audit.

Conclusions

Overall, this project yielded favorable results. It contributed to enhanced clinical practices by applying evidence-based approaches for monitoring and evaluating pain. Most importantly, it allowed positive health outcome’s such as reduced pain intensity and improve pain management in cancer patients.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

H. Martins.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.