DETERMINING CANCER-RELATED PAIN MANAGEMENT PRACTICES BY NURSES AT THE NAKURU COUNTY REFERRAL HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: More than 70% of cancer patients will experience cancer-related pain in the course of the disease. Nurses have a key role in cancer pain management by accurate assessment, prompt intervention, and adequate evaluation of pain relief measures for better cancer-related pain control. To enhance this, World Health Organization (WHO) developed a 3-step analgesic ladder in 1986 to guide cancer-related pain management worldwide. Objective: To determine cancer-related pain management practices by nurses at the Nakuru County Referral Hospital. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. The study targeted all nurses working at Nakuru County Referral Hospital; systematic random sampling was used to select the respondents where every 2nd nurse was selected. A pre-test was done at the Naivasha County Referral Hospital on 10 %( 23) of the sample. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire for nurses, and a checklist for nurse managers who were the key informants. Qualitative data was analyzed through thematic content analysis and presented in form of text. Quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20, Ethical clearance was obtained from MKU and Nakuru County Referral Hospital Research and ethics Committees and relevant departments. Results: About 91.2% of the respondents had poor adherence to WHO guideline on cancerrelated pain management. Conclusion: The study findings indicate poor adherence to the WHO guideline on cancer-related pain management by nurses and recommends emphasis on adherence to the WHO guideline on cancer-related pain management for effective cancer-related pain control.