Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study is part of a research program to reach consensus on an international cancer pain classification system. A confirmative and explorative approach was applied to investigate which of the variables identified in the literature, by experts and patients that are associated with pain. METHODS: Data from an international, multicentre, cross-sectional study of cancer patients treated with opioids were investigated. Dependent variables were: average pain, worst pain, and pain relief (11-point Numerical Rating Scales). Forty-six independent variables were chosen based upon previous studies. Bivariate analyses identified independent variables associated with at least one of the dependent ones; 21 were included in multivariate linear regression analyses. RESULTS: Two thousand two hundred and seventy-eight patients were investigated; 52% males, mean age 62years, mean Karnofsky Performance Status 59%, mean daily opioid oral equivalent dose 341mg. Fifty-eight percent had breakthrough pain. Mean pain scores were: average pain 3.5, worst pain 5.3 and pain relief 74%. Variables most strongly associated with these three dependent variables were: breakthrough pain, psychological distress, sleep, and opioid dose. CONCLUSIONS: Breakthrough pain and psychological distress were confirmed as key variables of a future classification system. Candidate variables were: sleep, opioid dose, pain mechanism, use of non-opioids, pain localisation, cancer diagnosis, location of metastases, and addiction.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 320-327 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | European Journal of Pain |
Volume | 15 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Mar 2011 |
Bibliographical note
AcknowledgementsThis study was supported by the EU’s 6th framework, Contract No. 037777, the Norwegian Research Council, and partially funded by a grant from the Italian Association for Cancer Research (AIRC),IG 9347. Anne Kari Knudsen received a grant from the Central Nor-way Regional Health Authority.
Keywords
- assessment
- cancer
- classification
- pain
- palliative care