Pain Management Knowledge and Attitude of Hospitalized Patients with Cancer and Their Family Caregivers

The aim of this study was to investigate pain management knowledge and attitude in cancer patients and their family caregivers. Methods: The subjects were 52 hospitalized cancer patients and 52 their family caregivers in a hematooncologic unit in one general hospital. Data were collected via self-reported questionnaires and interviews in 2008. Results: 46.2% of the patient participants reported pain and 50% of them were taking opioid analgesics. Levels of knowledge about cancer pain and its management in both patient and caregiver participants were low, whereas, the scores of knowledge of the caregivers were significantly higher than that of the patients. The attitudes toward cancer pain were not significantly different between patients and caregivers. Both cancer patients and caregivers had some misconcepts in using opioid analgesics and about cancer pain. Patients and caregivers level of knowledge about cancer pain and its mangement demonstrated positive correlation. Conclusion: Education about cancer pain and its management should target both cancer patients and their family caregivers. Also the education should focus on intervening the misconceptions that patients and their caregivers have regarding cancer pain and its management.N

The Effects of Nursing Education using CD ROM on the Anxiety and Knowledge of Patients having Minor Surgery

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of nursing education using a CD ROM on the anxiety and knowledge of the patients having minor surgery. Method: Forty patients hospitalized in K hospital in Seoul from April to August 2002 participated in this study. In the experimental group, twenty patients received nursing education on the operational procedures and post-operational care. The control group, received conventional nursing care only. Anxiety experienced by patients was measured by Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and knowledge was measured by an instrument developed by Rahe et al. The data were analyzed by SPSS statistical program. Result: There were no significant differences in anxiety level between two groups. However, subjects in the experimental group were found to have significantly higher postoperative knowledge levels than those in the control group, and were very satisfied with the CD ROM program. Conclusion: The nursing education program using CD ROM before minor surgery proved to be an effective nursing intervention to increase knowledge of patients and contribute to their self care after discharge. To decrease anxiety of the surgery, the nursing education program should be combined with supprortive emotional nursing intervention, such as touch, and massage.N