Pain Management of Palliative Cancer Patients Delivered by Nurses : A Descriptive Literature Review
Faune, Roweda; Howell, Roselyn Joyce; Sumbillo, Kristine Victoria (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202601271859
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202601271859
Tiivistelmä
Pain management is a fundamental component of quality palliative care for individuals with cancer. The purpose of this study was to describe nurse-delivered pain management for patients with cancer receiving palliative care. The aim of this thesis was to produce new knowledge of nurse-delivered interventions for cancer patients in palliative care as well as the perceived challenges. The knowledge gained can be utilized to improve nursing palliative care.
A descriptive literature review was conducted using a PICo framework to identify the target population (cancer patients), the area of interest (nurses’ intervention for nurse-delivered pain management), and the contextual scope (palliative care setting) of the study. Data were gathered at CINAHL and PubMed, supplemented by Keenious and Google Scholar.
As per well-established inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of twelve peer-reviewed primary studies published between 2015 and 2025 were chosen. The data was analyzed through an inductive content analysis. The review revealed that nurses implemented interventions based on holistic and educational support such as patient education, psychosocial support, and therapeutic communication while clinical practice standards were their basis for the use of structured assessment, guidelines, teamwork, and pharmacological measures through. Nevertheless, problems arose due to knowledge and system limitations as well as psychosocial and cultural barriers, among which were: lack of training, shortages of materials, traditional beliefs, and emotional stress.
The results show that better pain management in palliative cancer care can be achieved if the staff are given more structured educational opportunities, the institution provides a support system, and communication takes into account the local culture. Developing stronger clinical guidelines, guaranteeing the availability of essential drugs, and encouraging teamwork among healthcare professionals are very important measures for improving the pain control and quality of life of advanced cancer patients.
A descriptive literature review was conducted using a PICo framework to identify the target population (cancer patients), the area of interest (nurses’ intervention for nurse-delivered pain management), and the contextual scope (palliative care setting) of the study. Data were gathered at CINAHL and PubMed, supplemented by Keenious and Google Scholar.
As per well-established inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of twelve peer-reviewed primary studies published between 2015 and 2025 were chosen. The data was analyzed through an inductive content analysis. The review revealed that nurses implemented interventions based on holistic and educational support such as patient education, psychosocial support, and therapeutic communication while clinical practice standards were their basis for the use of structured assessment, guidelines, teamwork, and pharmacological measures through. Nevertheless, problems arose due to knowledge and system limitations as well as psychosocial and cultural barriers, among which were: lack of training, shortages of materials, traditional beliefs, and emotional stress.
The results show that better pain management in palliative cancer care can be achieved if the staff are given more structured educational opportunities, the institution provides a support system, and communication takes into account the local culture. Developing stronger clinical guidelines, guaranteeing the availability of essential drugs, and encouraging teamwork among healthcare professionals are very important measures for improving the pain control and quality of life of advanced cancer patients.