Opioid-taking tasks and behaviours in Taiwanese outpatients with cancer.

AIM

The aim of this study was to describe those tasks and behaviours that contribute to self-efficacy in the context of opioid-taking in Taiwanese outpatients with cancer and to explore those factors that influence a patient's self-efficacy with engaging in these behaviours.

BACKGROUND

Self-management with prescribed opioid regimen has become a necessary component of the cancer pain experience at home. Tailoring prescribed regimens is a complex and continuing effort for cancer pain control. Few studies, however, have explored the specific skills and behaviours required by patients to manage their opioid analgesics effectively.

DESIGN

A qualitative approach was used to explore those behaviours that contribute to patients' ability to self-manage medication for their cancer pain.

METHOD

Ten Taiwanese cancer patients aged between 41-75 years attending two oncology outpatient departments, who were prescribed opioid analgesics, were interviewed. All interviews were tape-recorded and were transcribed verbatim. Qualitative content analysis was undertaken to identify categories.

RESULTS

Five main categories of behaviours were identified, which reflected patient's perceptions of the actions required for effective opioid-taking. These behavioural domains included communicating about pain and analgesic-taking, taking analgesics according to schedule, obtaining help, tailoring medication regimens and managing treatment-related concerns. In addition, patients described various situations in which performance of these behaviours was more or less difficult.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that self-efficacy with opioid-taking includes not only beliefs about the ability to communicate, but also the ability to fulfil more complex tailoring of medication regimens and management of treatment-related concerns.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Health professionals need to incorporate strategies to assist cancer patients' ability to engage in these behaviours and to manage situational impediments that may influence this ability. More importantly, clinicians need to assist patients to enhance their beliefs in their ability in overcoming various situation impediments for opioid-taking.