Management of Cancer Pain: Current Guidelines

STATEMENT OF NEED

Cancer patients often experience a range of symptoms that negatively impact their quality of life. Among the most debilitating is pain. Despite efforts to increase awareness, cancer pain is still underdiagnosed and undertreated and patients do not obtain complete relief. Although numerous management guidelines for cancer pain have been developed, most health care practitioners do not universally apply them. As such, there remains a considerable gap in the management of pain in cancer patients.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Oncology nurses, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and other health care professionals involved in the treatment of patients with cancer.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

1. Describe the pathophysiology of cancer pain and the scientific principles of pain management
2. Differentiate the types of cancer pain
3. Apply emerging concepts in pharmacological management