Barriers to the effective management of pain

Abstract

Pain is one of the most common symptoms experienced by cancer patients and for many it is the most feared. A vast amount of time, money and effort has been expended on developing effective ways of managing cancer pain and as a result pain can be relieved in the vast majority of cancer patients using relatively simple measures. However, it has been estimated that adequate control of pain is achieved in only 50% of patients in Western societies and in only 10% of those living in developing countries (Hanks, 1995). A number of factors contribute to this undesirable situation including: poor clinical decision making on the part of health professionals; myths and misconceptions about pain and the use of opioids; patients’ non-compliance with treatment and their reluctance to report pain; and problems within the healthcare system which include lack of opioid availability and breakdowns in the continuity of care. This article aims to explore the barriers to effective pain relief and identifies ways in which they may be overcome.