Differences in Sensory Pain, Expectation, and Satisfaction Reported by Outpatients with Cancer or Sickle Cell Disease

Abstract

Background: Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) report pain scores that appear greater than those reported in a meta-analysis for patients with cancer, but statistical comparisons of the pain scores from both populations have not been published. Aims: The goal of the study described here was to compare pain outcomes reported by outpatients with cancer or SCD. Design: Descriptive comparative study. Setting: Outpatient oncology or sickle cell clinics. Subjects: The participants were outpatients (N = 415) from three studies: (1) 106 patients with SCD, 93% African-American (referent group); (2) 140 patients with cancer, 90% Caucasian (race discordant); (3) 169 patients with cancer, 20% Caucasian, 65% African-American (race concordant). Methods: Patients completed the PAINReportIt including pain location, quality, pattern, intensity, expectation, satisfaction, and demographic questions. Analyses included the χ2 test, analysis of variance, and regression. Results: Outpatients with SCD reported more pain location sites than the race-discordant (p