Improvement of Self Management for Oncologic Patients With Pain

According to modified "Precede Model of health behavior" from Green, patients self management skills are affected by the patients' knowledge, activities and attitude to pain management.

Therefore, we conduct a cluster randomized clinical trial (C-RCT) that will test the effectiveness of SCION-PAIN program against care as usual on self pain management of the patient and average pain level.

As allocation to intervention or control is performed on the level of wards, randomization is stratified by ward profile (e.g. gynaecological, haematological, urological).

Wards were included if they agreed to participate and had more than 10% patients with a diagnosis of cancer in 2006. Wards with a pediatric profile were excluded.

Adult oncology patients with persistent pain will be recruited by the nurses of the participating wards under the guidance of a research nurse. Patients are included in the trial if they meet the inclusion criteria and sign informed consent. They will receive the intervention that the respective ward was allocated to.

The SCION-PAIN program as a multi modular structured nursing intervention (see Arm Description) will be conducted by specially trained ward nurses in cooperation with the research nurse. The intervention will include components of knowledge, skills training, and coaching (particularly against patient-related barriers to pain medication) to improve cancer pain management. Patients in intervention group will receive follow-up telephone counseling within 2 to 3 days after discharge. The self management skills of the patients will be observed up to 28 days post discharge. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses will be conducted to evaluate patient outcomes.

Inclusion criteria

• adult oncology patients
• able to read, write, and understand German
• agree to participate and give informed consent
• have an average pain intensity score of > 3.0 on a 0 to 10 NRS
• pain persists for more than 3 days
• scheduled for another visit to the clinic

Exclusion criteria

• documented actual alcohol or drug abuse
• surgery within the last 3 days
• disorientated to date, place and situation
• have a ECOG Performance Score of 4