Best Practice Statement - The Management of Pain in Patients with Cancer (PDF, 206K, 54 secs)
Approximately 80% of patients with cancer in Scotland experience pain;16% experience mild pain and 42% moderate to severe pain (Scottish Pain Audit, 2000). Following consultation, nurses throughout Scotland have recognised this problem and requested guidance in this area of practice to improve patient care.
NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) has developed this best practice statement in collaboration with a network of nurses and allied health professionals involved in the management of pain in patients with cancer. A multidisciplinary reference group has advised the network. The statement refers to the care of adult patients with cancer, in all care settings, who may experience pain. It therefore incorporates healthcare services in community, hospital and hospice settings.
The importance of recognising that pain is multidimensional in nature and unique to the individual is essential in ensuring best practice for these patients and is reflected throughout the statement. The management of pain in partnership with the patient and multiprofessional team working are reinforced as being key elements in achieving adequate pain control.
The aim of the statement is to offer guidance to healthcare professionals on the best practice in this area, aiming to provide a consistent approach to practice to enable seamless provision of care to be delivered between the hospital and the community.