Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
4. What is the relationship between pain intensity and its
interference with various aspects of the participant’s life in a
Lebanese sample of cancer clients?
5. What is the relationship between the average pain intensity
and perceived relief from pain from treatment?
Methodology
Sample and setting
A convenience sample of 75 oncology clients was recruited from
inpatient and outpatient units in a major tertiary care center in
Beirut, Lebanon. The sample inclusion criteria were:
1. Adult clients aged 18 years and above
2. Clients diagnosed with cancer; primary or metastatic.
3. Clients complaining of pain as a result of their cancer.
4. Clients receiving treatment for their pain.
Clients who underwent surgery or an invasive procedure during the
past month were excluded.
Instrument
The BPI is a self administered questionnaire that measures the
presence and location of pain in 2 items, pain severity (at its worst
during past 24 hours, least during the past 24 hours, on average
and now) in 4 items, pain relief in 2 items, and pain interference
with general activity, mood, walking ability, normal work,
relationships with people, sleep, and enjoyment of life, in 7 items
(Nejmi, Wang, Mendoza, Gning, & Cleeland 2002). A Visual Analog
Pain Scale was added to the BPI. Chart data included age, gender
medical diagnosis and medications.
Procedure
Medical records of clients admitted to the inpatient and outpatient
oncology units were screened for inclusion criteria. The treating
physician or nurse were asked whether the clients knew of their
cancer diagnosis. Eligible clients were approached by the primary
investigator and given explanation about the study. An informed
consent was obtained then the BPI was administered.
Results
The majority of the sample (88%) were married, males (78.7%)
and older than 46 years (56%). All clients were medically insured
and 84% had at least secondary education. The primary cancer
sites were the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, or liver (29.3%);
bladder, testicles or prostate (17.4%); and breast (14.7%);
remaining sites included the lungs, retroperitoneum, hematologic
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