Treatment of pain in cancer patients

Teoretična izhodišča: Bolečina je neprijetna izkušnja, vendar je ena ključnih funkcij našega telesa, saj deluje kot opozorilni sistem, ki nam sporoča, da je nekaj narobe ali da moramo prenehati z nečim, kar bi povzročilo dodatno škodo. Dolgotrajna bolečina zmanjša kakovost življenja bolnika in njegove družine. Pomeni tudi trpljenje, invalidnost, nezmožnost opravljanja dela, izgubo dohodka in skrb zaradi negotove prihodnosti. Metodologija raziskovanja: Za izdelavo diplomskega dela smo uporabili deskriptivno metodo dela. Raziskava temelji na kvantitativni metodologiji dela. Kot raziskovalni instrument smo uporabili anketni vprašalnik, ki je zajemal 16 vprašanj, od tega 15 zaprtega in eno vprašanje pol odprtega tipa. V raziskavi je sodelovalo 40 naključno izbranih bolnikov obolelih za rakom, ki obiskujejo Onkološki dispanzer v Mariboru. Rezultati: Rezultati raziskave so pokazali, da je pri kar 64 % anketiranih predpisana terapija učinkovita, vendar si anketirani pri lajšanju bolečine dodatno pomagajo z masažo, obkladki in razgibavanjem. Ugotovili smo, da je večina anketiranih dovolj informirana o bolečini in jo je tudi sprejela kot del življenja, kljub temu pa le 27 % anketiranih tudi obvladuje bolečino. Prav tako ugotovimo, da ima bolečina vpliv na življenje pri kar 97 % anketiranih. Sklep: Vsak posameznik doživlja bolečino različno in se nanjo tudi različno odzove. Še posebej hudo je za bolnika kadar je bolečina močna, kronična in dolgotrajna, ker poslabša kakovost življenja. Za učinkovito obravnavo in zdravljenje bolečine je potrebno dobro sodelovanje med bolnikom, svojci in celotnim zdravstvenim timom. Le osveščen bolnik lahko prevzame aktivno vlogo v procesu zdravljenja bolečine.Theory: Pain is the unpleasant experience, but also one of the key functions in our body. It serves as a warning feature which draws our attention that something is not right and that we need to stop doing something that can cause additional damage. Long term pain decreases quality of patient and his family life. It also causes suffering, disability, incapacity, loss of income and concern about the uncertain future. Research methodology: For the diploma work, we used descriptive method. The study is based on a quantitative methodology of work. As a research tool, we used survey, which included 16 questions, 15 closed questions and one half open. The study included 40 randomly selected cancer patients which attend the Oncology dispensary in Maribor. Results: The obtained results showed that prescribed therapy is effective for 64 % of respondents, which still additionally helps alleviate the pain with massage, compresses, and exercising. We found that the majority of respondents are sufficiently informed about the pain and they also accepted it as a part of life. But only 27 % of responders control the pain. Also 97% interviewed patient claims that pain affect on their live. Conclusion: Each individual experience pain differently and also reacts differently. It is particularly severe for the patient when the pain is strong, chronic and long-term, because the quality of life deteriorates. To effectively address and treat the pain, good collaboration between the patient and the entire medical team is required. Only informed patient can take an active role in treatment of pain