Implementing a multidisciplinary cancer pain education program

Cancer pain remains problematic for many patients. No standardized guidelines were available for the management of cancer pain until the early 1990s. In addition, many healthcare personnel have not been trained adequately in pain management, despite the abundance of literature. As a result, clinicians often manage patient's pain poorly. This article provides an overview of the process of development and implementation of a 5-year multidisciplinary cancer pain education program, begun in 1989 by the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, School of Medicine, and Cancer Center. The program was comprised of a multidisciplinary cancer pain consultation panel that sought to educate healthcare personnel in community hospitals and nursing homes in southeastern Pennsylvania about cancer pain. This was accomplished by providing consultations for agencies with patients experiencing uncontrolled and/or progressive cancer pain. The panel also provided education through lectures, newsletters, and symposia. A total of 1949 healthcare personnel attended 92 consultations, lectures, and symposia during the 5 years that the program has operated. With the linkage approach to innovation diffusion framework used in this consultation program, and the implementation of the guidelines now available, many healthcare personnel may be able to increase their skills and manage pain more effectively, thus reducing and/or eliminating needless suffering for patients. Developing role models in the area of pain management at community hospitals may be the most effective means of incorporating pain control guidelines and fostering innovation.