Assessing patients' satisfaction and intensity of pain as outcomes in the management of cancer-related pain.

This study evaluated clinical outcomes in the management of cancer pain in terms of pain severity, pain relief and satisfaction with pain management. It was conducted in a large oncology hospital in Athens, Greece and utilized the American Pain Society's Patient Outcome Questionnaire. Information was also collected about the quality of interpersonal relationships with nurses through qualitative comments. A convenience sample of 70 hospitalized adult patients constituted the study population. Despite the high levels of pain observed indicating ineffective treatment, the subjects reported to be "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with the management of their pain and the general care given. Several significant differences and relationships were found between the variables examined. Nurses had developed therapeutic relationships and effective communication with the patients. Further, qualitative comments made by 17 patients provided rich data of rational and humanistic aspects of nursing. Medical and nursing curricula and clinical training in Greece should put more emphasis on pain management. Also, efforts should be channeled so that the management of pain receives a more organised and formal attention in clinical settings. The establishment of pain clinics in Hellenic oncology facilities is a clinical priority.

Description and adequacy of parental coping behaviours in childhood leukaemia.

This investigation explored how parents perceived the child's leukaemia and how well coped with it. Forty-one mothers and 30 fathers recruited from the largest Hellenic paediatric hospital were asked to answer closed and open-ended questions and to complete the Coping Health Inventory for Parents [CHIP]. Most of the participants perceived the child's disease as a serious and threatening situation. The strategies aimed at maintaining family strength and an optimistic outlook were ranked as being the most helpful. Using specific criteria, it became evident that, overall, the subjects coped well. Neither gender nor spousal differences were found in the variables examined. Implications for health-related research, theory and practitioners are addressed.

Parents' perceptions of the information provided to them about their child's leukaemia.

Forty-one mothers and 30 fathers were interviewed to examine their perceptions of (a) the type and amount of information provided to them about their child's leukaemia; (b) their sources of information; (c) their level of satisfaction from the information given; and (d) additional information they needed to manage the stressful encounters associated with the disease. Study results showed that health-care professionals represented the main source of information for these parents. The information given was centred primarily on the bio-medical aspects of the child's condition. Parents, however, reported that they needed additional information related to the psychosocial ramifications of the situation. No statistically significant differences were found either between the two sexes or between the two spouses. Education and previous experience with cancer correlated both to perceived amount of information given and to parental satisfaction from it. Subjects' low satisfaction from the information offered to them seems to reflect their disappointment about (a) the limited effectiveness of current medical knowledge and treatment and (b) the bio-clinical focus of the Hellenic health-care system.