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Problems of breakthrough pain in cancer patients
TOMŠÍČKOVÁ, Lenka
Objectives: The diploma thesis deals with the occurrence and treatment of breakthrough pain in patients treated for cancer. The role of the nurse is irreplaceable in the issue of breakthrough pain, because the competences of nurses include the recognition and satisfaction of needs, which includes the need for pain relief. The aim of the thesis was to find out the experience of nurses related to the care of patients with breakthrough pain. Then to further describe the experience of patients themselves with breakthrough pain and with the pain treatment with transmucosal administration of opioids. Methodology: A qualitative form of research was chosen to fulfill the objectives of the thesis. Obtaining information was ensured using the method of semi-structured interviews with fifteen nurses and case studies in five patients. For the case study, data were obtained from the medical records of the participating patients in combination with interviews with these patients and the nurses caring for these patients. The choice of suitable participants was chosen by deliberate sampling. The data obtained were then analysed using open coding, a method called "pencil and paper". Results: The research part shows that the treatment and overall nursing care of patients with breakthrough pain is very demanding. However, the participating nurses mention the fact that treatment is often managed through erudite doctors of the facility using various forms of treatment. The nurses also mention that the interventions they can use to relieve pain within their competencies are usually not sufficient in the area of breakthrough pain. This statement is supported by information obtained from the patients themselves. The results also show that physicians in the facilities where the interviewed nurses work prefer other forms of drugs to treat breakthrough pain to transmucosally administered opioids. At the same time, however, the case study revealed that the participating patients are satisfied with this treatment form of breakthrough pain, as evidenced by the answers of the patients themselves and nurses. The thesis also documents the finding that nurses are very important in evaluating the effectiveness of pain treatment or in education about the use or application of specific dosage forms. Contribution of the thesis: Information about breakthrough pain and experience with its treatment, which is dealt with in the theoretical and research part, can be a source of instruction for health professionals and lay people. The results also allow to create a comprehensive overview of the issue of breakthrough pain.
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