Adult cancer patients’ barriers toward pain management: A literature review

Abstract

Background and objective: Cancer pain is the most common symptom among cancer patients. Despite strategies to control cancer pain, cancer patients’ beliefs and attitudes influence the effectiveness of cancer pain management. The aim of this literature review was to identify and explore adult cancer patients’ barriers toward pain management.

Methods: A literature review was conducted. CINAHL, Medline, and PsychINFO databases were searched for relevant articles from 2008 to 2019. Twenty one articles were included in this literature review. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify and explore adult cancer patients’ barriers toward pain management. 

Results: This literature review revealed several patient barriers toward pain management. These barriers were categorized into cognitive barriers that include poor pain communication, fatalism, and fear of addiction and tolerance; sensory barrier, such as fear of drug side effects; affective barriers, such as anxiety and depression, and socio-demographic barriers that influence cancer pain management.

Conclusions: Adult cancer patients’ barriers toward pain management significantly compromise the effectiveness of pain management and affect cancer patients’ quality of life. A better understanding of cancer patients’ barriers toward pain management by the healthcare providers will result in better assessment and management of these barriers and will enhance evidenced-based patient education.