Effects of cognitive-behavioral strategies on pain in cancer patients

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effects of a combination of cognitive and behavioral nursing interventions on pain perception, pain control, and mood in metastatic breast cancer patients who were experiencing physical pain. A pretest-posttest experimental research design was utilized in this pilot study. Twenty-four patients with metastatic breast cancer who were experiencing physical pain were randomly assigned to a control group, to a treatment group who received relaxation and visualization training, or to a treatment group who received relaxation, visualization, and cognitive coping skills training. Measures of the subjects' pain intensity, pain distress, pain control, ability to decrease pain, and mood were taken pre- and posttreatment. Significant differences were found between the treatment groups and the control group in ability to decrease pain. There were no significant differences found in pain intensity or distress or mood. The results indicate that these cognitive-behavioral interventions could be useful clinical nursing interventions for selected cancer patients experiencing physical pain.