Pain knowledge of patients and family caregivers as predictors of pain management outcomes in cancer patients: a multicenter study in China

Purpose The purposes of this study were to evaluate the current situation of pain management outcomes, patients’ pain knowledge and family caregivers’ pain knowledge in China. And explore the impact of pain knowledge of patients and family caregivers on pain management outcomes.Methods A multicenter cross-sectional survey was conducted. A total of 410 patient-family caregiver dyads completed questionnaires, which included basic characters of patients and family caregivers, Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), the Pain Knowledge subscales of Patient Pain Questionnaire(PPQ) and Family Pain Questionnaire(FPQ). The difference in pain management outcomes was analyzed using the two independent-samples t test, one way ANOVA analysis and Wilcoxon rank sum test. Variables with statistical significance in bivariate analysis were included in multivariable linear regression analysis.Results The majority of the patients were male (57.1%), with the mean (SD) age of 59.34 (12.59). And strong opioids has been prescribed for 72.4% of the patients. The mean (SD) age of 410 family caregivers was 48.25(13.27) and nearly half of participants were female (54.9%). The average patient pain score in the last 24h was 3.23(SD = 2.16). The total average score on pain knowledge of 410 patients and family caregivers were 3.60 ± 1.90 and 3.57 ± 1.76. Taking strong opioids, patients’ perceived moderate performance, patients’ pain knowledge and family caregivers’ pain knowledge were the main factors influencing the pain management outcomes.Conclusion The findings of this study revealed that patients pain are at a moderate level and not satisfactory. Pain knowledge of patients and family caregivers are also at a moderate level. Moreover, this study reveals that pain management outcomes are obviously influenced by analgesics, performance status and pain knowledge of patients and family caregivers. Advancing pain management by standardizing and individualizing pain treatment, implementing tailored education program to patients and family caregivers are important to improve cancer pain management outcomes.