Enhancing management of cancer pain: contribution of the internal working model

The purpose of this article is to organize the current knowledge regarding patient-related factors that can have an impact on cancer pain management by using the construct of the internal working model: a theoretical framework for integrating current knowledge and interpreting and predicting factors related to the management of cancer pain. These factors include patients' beliefs and misconceptions about cancer pain and pain treatment, meanings that patients ascribe to their pain, their expectations about pain relief, and communication between patients and clinicians about pain control. The construct of the internal working model predicts and explains factors related to pain control and provides implications for practice. It has potential utility in enhancing the quality of cancer pain management.