ArticlePain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain2025
What is cancer pain? Investigating attitudes of patients, carers, and health professionals: A cross-sectional survey.
Article in Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Understanding Barriers to Cancer Pain Management: Insights From Patients and Healthcare Professionals-A Systematic Review.Public health challenges · 2026Review
- The impact of pharmacist-led medication therapy management on the efficacy of cancer pain control: a pre-post interventional study.Journal of pharmaceutical health care and sciences · 2026Article
- What is cancer pain? Investigating attitudes of patients, carers, and health professionals: A cross-sectional survey.Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundCancer pain is a prevalent and debilitating symptom that impacts quality of life. Pain management remains challenging; however, due to various barriers, including stigma associated with opioid use, ambiguous roles of clinicians, and diverse attitudes toward pain management among healthcare professionals, patients, and carers.
objectiveTo explore the attitudes surrounding cancer pain among patients, carers, and health professionals at a tertiary cancer hospital.
methodsA cross-sectional online survey was conducted at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. The survey included demographic measures and statements assessing attitudes toward cancer pain management. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics in IBM SPSS 29. Ethics approval was granted by the Peter MacCallum HREC.
results308 participants (153 patients and carers, 155 health professionals) completed the survey. The results revealed significant variability in attitudes surrounding cancer pain and its management. Discrepancies in understanding between health professionals and patients/carers were observed. Differing views on the goals of pain management were revealed, with 51.6% of patients/carers expecting pain elimination compared to 20.6% of health professionals. The roles of clinicians in pain management were also perceived differently, highlighting a lack of clarity in responsibilities. Both groups emphasized the need for increased education on cancer pain and its management.
conclusionsThe study revealed substantial variability in attitudes toward cancer pain management among patients, carers, and health professionals. Discrepancies emerged in understanding, with many patients and carers uncertain about the nature of cancer pain, contrasting with health professionals' recognition of its complexity. The terminology distinguishing "cancer pain" from "non-cancer pain" may contribute to this confusion, suggesting a need to reconsider these semantics. Divergent views on clinician roles and opioid use underscored uncertainties, especially regarding specialist access and prescribing practices. Both groups emphasized the need for education to bridge these gaps, with clearer communication and revised guidelines potentially improving patient outcomes.
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