Department of Fundamental Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Faculty of Graduates Studies, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
BMJ Open. 2024 Nov 14;14(11):e085510. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085510.
Pain is one of the most debilitating symptoms of cancer, substantially diminishing one's quality of life. The level of pain experienced is eventually determined by the pain coping strategies adopted by patients individually. The awareness of the 'self-coping methods of pain' of individual patients would be beneficial for the multidisciplinary pain team to consider such methods when planning future interventions to manage pain.
This study explores the pain perception and coping strategies used by patients with cancer pain in Sri Lanka.
A descriptive qualitative study.
Pain management unit, Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama, Sri Lanka.
The study was conducted among purposively selected patients with cancer and registered at the pain management unit. 21 semi-structured interviews were conducted until data saturation. Data were analysed using Graneheim and Lundman's content analysis method.
Most participants were between 51 and 60 years old and identified as Sinhalese Buddhists. The study's findings revealed two subthemes under 'Understanding pain', namely 'Physical and emotional impact' and 'Cultural and spiritual interpretations', and five subthemes under 'Coping strategies for living with pain', namely 'Medication and self-control', 'Seeking spiritual support', 'Receiving social support', 'Exploring alternative treatments' and 'Adapting daily life'.
Coping strategies were adopted especially in achieving essential life aspirations and participating in preferred activities. Goals or activities were often adjusted to fall within their health limits. Acceptance and progress in life were considered more important than pain control. We recommend giving due consideration to the 'self-coping strategies' of individual patients in designing interventions to mitigate cancer pain.
本研究旨在探讨斯里兰卡癌症疼痛患者的疼痛感知和应对策略。
描述性定性研究。
斯里兰卡马哈拉加马的 Apeksha 医院疼痛管理单元。
该研究在疼痛管理单元登记的有癌症的、经选择性选取的患者中进行。共进行了 21 次半结构式访谈，直至数据饱和。使用 Graneheim 和 Lundman 的内容分析法分析数据。
大多数参与者年龄在 51-60 岁之间，为僧伽罗佛教徒。研究结果揭示了“理解疼痛”下的两个次主题，即“身体和情绪影响”和“文化和精神解释”，以及“应对疼痛生活的策略”下的五个次主题，即“药物和自我控制”、“寻求精神支持”、“获得社会支持”、“探索替代疗法”和“调整日常生活”。
患者尤其采取应对策略来实现重要的生活愿望和参与喜欢的活动。目标或活动通常根据健康限制进行调整。接受生活并取得进步被认为比控制疼痛更重要。我们建议在设计减轻癌症疼痛的干预措施时，充分考虑个体患者的“自我应对策略”。
