Cancer pain self-management interventions in adults: Scoping review

Abstract

Background: The predominant trend in cancer treatment now leans towards outpatient care, placing the responsibility of pain management largely on the patients themselves. Moreover, a significant portion of treatment for advanced cancer occurs in the home environment, so patient self-management becomes increasingly crucial for the effective treatment of cancer pain. Objectives: To map self-management for pain in patients with cancer at all phases of the disease before examining the potential of pain self-care interventions for ill patients with cancer. Methods: A search was conducted on six electronic databases to locate studies published in English, from 2013 to 2023. We followed Arskey and O'Malley's Scoping Reviews guidelines. Results: This study thoroughly examined the provision of cancer pain self-management by healthcare professionals and identified four intervention types from 23 studies. Education emerged as the most prevalent form of self-management for cancer pain. Conclusion: Guiding patients in managing their pain effectively, starting from their hospitalisation and extending to their discharge.