Pain in cancer patients: pain assessment by patients and family caregivers and problems experienced by caregivers.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Pain is among the most important symptoms in terms of prevalence and a major cause of distress for cancer patients and their family caregivers. Thus, we conducted this study with the aim to compare assessment of pain among cancer patients and their caregivers and to determine the problems experienced by caregivers. METHODS: A cross-sectional and descriptive design was used. This study was conducted in a chemotherapy unit and an adult oncology clinic with 220 patients diagnosed with cancer who admitted to an oncology hospital and 220 caregivers. The study data was collected using a questionnaire and visual analogue scale (VAS, where "0: no pain," "10: severe pain"). Statistically significant levels were set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Pain severity as assessed by patients and their caregivers was 7.1 ± 2.8 and 7.3 ± 2.4, respectively, and the most common pain-related problems in cancer patients were fatigue (p < 0.05), loss of appetite and insomnia (p > 0.05) as reported by both patients and caregivers. Compared to their caregivers, patients more frequently reported financial burden associated with pain management and negative effects of cancer pain on their work life and domestic life and family relationships, all of which were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The caregivers most commonly reported fatigue (56.8%) in their role as a caregiver. CONCLUSION: Pain assessments of both patients and caregivers and seeking their input on how to manage potential pain-related problems are crucial to achieve adequate pain control. In addition, psychological distress experienced by caregivers should not be overlooked.

Effect of inhaler drug education on fatigue, dyspnea severity, and respiratory function tests in patients with COPD.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to examine the effect of inhaler drug education on fatigue, dyspnea severity, and respiratory function tests in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: This randomized controlled study was conducted with a total of 85 patients treated at the chest diseases clinic and outpatient clinic of a state hospital. The data were collected using questionnaires, respiratory function tests, and the COPD and Asthma Fatigue Scale (CAFS) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS-for dyspnea severity). RESULTS: It was determined that after 4 weeks of inhaler drug education, the CAFS mean score decreased to 35.32 ±â€¯14.36, the dyspnea severity mean score decreased to 4.76 ±â€¯2.50, and the respiratory function tests mean scores increased to forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) = 58.83 ±â€¯25.48, forced vital capacity (FVC) = 59.04 ±â€¯19.19, and FEV1/FVC = 88.39 ±â€¯21.59 in the intervention group (p < 0.05). No change was observed in the patients in the control group except for FEV1 and FVC mean scores (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that inhaler drug education can improve fatigue, dyspnea severity, and respiratory function tests of patients with COPD. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The training by nurses of every patient hospitalized in the clinic regarding inhaler drug therapy, and the regular checking of patients' way of using the inhaled drugs, will contribute to COPD management.