[A study of well-being and pain control in cancer patients]

This study set out to clarify the situation with regard to pain control among cancer patients and the links between this and their sense of well-being in their daily lives. The study was carried out by means of a questionnaire distributed to 49 patients with cancer pain admitted to a general hospital. The survey showed that about 15% of the subjects were somewhat or very dissatisfied with the pain control. It also revealed that pain intensity correlated significantly with dissatisfaction with regard to pain control as well as with anger resulting from a feeling that there was no point in reporting the pain because the doctors and nurses did nothing. Over half the subjects assumed that an increase in pain signified progression of the disease. With regard to the use of pain medication, over half the subjects were worried about resulting tolerance of or addiction to analgesics, and the strength of their concerns showed a significant negative correlation with the score assigned to their sense of well-being. The intensity of pain also correlated significantly with a tendency to become easily fatigued, a lowering of vitality and physical strength, and an increase in psychological and emotional distress.