Improving Cancer Pain Management Through Teach-Back Educational Approach for Patients and Primary Caregivers: A Pilot Study

Even though there are comprehensive guidelines for cancer pain management, pain control among cancer patients and survivors is often suboptimal due to undertreatment. According to recent studies, the addition of educational interventions could improve pain relief in cancer patients. Both patients and family caregivers play an important role in delivering cancer pain self-management, especially at home. Providing knowledge for cancer pain management with optimal intervention could improve patient and caregiver outcomes.

The Teach-back method, where patients and family caregivers are asked to repeat the instruction they've received from their health care professionals, can assess patients' understanding, repeat or modify the educational material if comprehension is not demonstrated. This pilot study compared the addition of the Teach-back method for cancer patients and their caregivers and its relation to cancer pain management.

Inclusion criteria

• Moderate to severe pain (pain scale 4 and above)
• ≥18 years old
• Signed the informed consent
• Willing to cooperate until the end of studies
• The patient is fully conscious and able to communicate well
• Cared by a family caregiver
• Family caregiver able to fully function as a caregiver

Exclusion criteria

• Near-death (dying) stage
• Not willing to cooperate until the end of studies
• Altered mental status and communication difficulties