The impact of pain on quality of life. A decade of research.

Pain and the quality of life are closely related. This article summarizes a series of studies conducted over the last decade contributing to the understanding of the pain and quality of life relationship. Details about the meaning of pain, the experience of pain in children, and the impact of pain on the family are presented. Information obtained from research studies led to the development of pain education programs that strengthen direct nursing care of patients and families experiencing cancer pain.