Effects of coaching patients with lung cancer to report cancer pain

The authors have examined the effects of coaching sensory self-monitoring and reporting on pain-related variables in patients with lung cancer. Randomly assigned to coached or not-coached groups, 215 patients have their interactions with their providers audiotaped and complete study measures pre- and postintervention. Of the 151 patients who complete the 4-week study, those coached are more likely than those not coached to give their providers unsolicited sensory pain information and to mention it before their providers ask for it. The mean number of pain parameters discussed during the audiotaped clinic visit is statistically larger at study end for the coached group. Scores for analgesic adequacy, all pain indices except one, anxiety, depression, and catastrophizing coping are not significantly different. Although coaching increases the amount of pain data communicated to providers by patients with lung cancer, the magnitude is small and does not lead to improved adequacy of analgesics prescribed for each patient's pain level.