Effects of clinical pathway in cancer pain management among cancer patients

Objective To explore the effects of clinical pathway in cancer pain management among cancer patients. Methods We selected 114 cancer patients with pain and opioids pain management in Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy Center at Ningbo First Hospital of Zhejiang Province. A total of 56 cancer patients with pain from March to December 2018 were in observation group with nursing based on self-design clinical pathway; a total of 58 cancer patients with pain from May 2017 to February 2018 were in control group with routine nursing. The Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) was used to compare the effects of pain management of patients between two groups. We also investigated the medication compliance and pain management satisfaction of patients between two groups. Results As time progressed, the NRS scores of cancer pain patients in the two groups decreased, and the interaction, time and intervention differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.01) . One day before discharge, the score of NRS in breakout pain attack of patients of observation group was (4.78±0.59) lower than that (5.56±0.74) of control group; times of breakout pain of patients of observation group was (2.70±0.71) times per day less than (3.21±0.84) times per day of control group; the differences were statistical (P<0.01) . The medication compliance of patients of observation group was (6.69±0.97) , higher than (6.02±1.10) of control group; patients' satisfaction with pain management of observation group was (87.84±7.21) , higher than (75.93±6.95) of control group; the differences were also statistically significant (P<0.01) . Conclusions Application of clinical pathway in pain management and nursing for cancer patients with pain can effectively management patients pain and improves patients' medication compliance and satisfaction with nursing. Key words: Neoplasms; Pain; Critical pathways; Cancer pain management; Compliance; Satisfaction