Cancer pain intensity and perceived social support in palliative care: 1-week prospective study

Abstract

ObjectivesPain is a complex and multidimensional experience affected by psychosocial factors. Perceived social support (PSS) has been considered as a positive psychosocial resource for effective regulation of cancer patients’ well-being. Our study examined the relationship between PSS and pain intensity under 1-week palliative care.MethodsA prospective study was conducted of terminal cancer inpatients (N=84) recruited from the hospice ward. Pain intensity was assessed on admission and 1 week later, and patients completed self-report questionnaires assessing PSS at admission. The repeated designed analysis of variance was used to explore the correlate of PSS with cancer pain.ResultsPain intensity decreased after 1 week (t=2.303, p=0.024), and 47.62% gained pain relief. For pain intensity, there was a significant PSS group×time interaction effect detected (F=4.544, p=0.036). Pain intensity in the high PSS group was significantly reduced 1 week later (p=0.008), while the change of pain intensity was not significant in the low PSS group (p=0.609).ConclusionsPSS at admission predicted the 1-week development of pain intensity. Identifying PSS of terminal cancer patients leads to early interventions that are more effective in improving pain management of palliative care.