Unrelieved Cancer Pain in Palliative Care

Previous research studies and statistics have shown that despite widespread use of pain alleviation strategies and recommendations, pain is under treated in as many as 50% of patients receiving treatment for the disease report unrelieved pain (Ashley, 2008). The purpose of this study was to determine the factors contributing to unrelieved cancer pain in palliative care and to establish what can be done by nurses to improve the current pain management situation. A systematic literature review was carried out through NELLI electronic library.Four electronic databases were used; PUBMED, CINAHL, Taylor & Francis,and SAGE.Following pre-determined criteria of English language, full text articles, and articles published from 2005 to 2014; a total of 10 articles were finally identified and analysed for the study. The findings revealed three main descriptive categories including professional barriers, system barriers and patient barriers. The professional barriers entailed medical staff training and medical personnel attitudes. The system barriers entailed the health care system, laws and regulations as well as government economy whereas as the patient barriers included patient attitudes and the complex psychological milieu of cancer. Deductions from the findings were made of the nurses’ contribution and role in improving the situation and reducing the occurrences of unrelieved pain among cancer patients in palliative care. The ethical issues were considered at all times throughout the research process. An observation was made of insufficient knowledge and research on unrelieved cancer pain. Extensive research was recommended in light of this observation