Multidisciplinary Pain Team Significantly Improved Patients’ Symptoms, Quality of Life
Researchers explored the efficacy of a multidisciplinary pain management team for addressing patients with cancer-related pain.
Multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) focused on pain management showed improved outcomes among patients with cancer-related pain, according to data published in Pain Management Nursing.1 Although they mentioned the complexities of cancer-related pain, researchers noted MDTs are best positioned to offer personalized treatment known to improve symptoms and quality of life (QOL).
“Cancer pain is a prevalent concern among patients with advanced disease, affecting approximately 44.5%, with 30.6% experiencing it at moderate to severe levels,” wrote authors of the study. “Insufficient pain relief can diminish QOL and exacerbate psychological distress, and despite the increasing focus on pain management, significant advancements in this field have been minimal over the past few decades.”
While few advancements have been made recently in regard to pain management, researchers know much more about cancer pain than they once did. According to the authors of a study published in Current Oncology, the management of cancer-related pain has grown significantly similar to that of chronic non-cancer pain. The authors also noted the significant benefits of an interdisciplinary care team for the treatment of cancer pain.2
Improvements in pain were observed through the reduction of pain intensity scores and increase in pain management index scores. | image credit: Monkey Business / stock.adobe.com
In the present study, however, researchers were concerned less with the interventions used in treating cancer pain and more concerned with the providers managing pain and providing personalized care to patients with cancer.
READ MORE: Ketamine Improved Chronic Pain for Patients with Cancer Following Surgery
“At our hospital, a well-established MDT comprising the Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacy, Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology, Interventional Radiology, and Nursing has been effectively operating and has provided assistance to numerous patients suffering from cancer-related pain,” wrote the authors.1 “The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and affecting factors of MDT interventions in cancer pain management by analyzing the changes in symptom severity, response for cancer pain, pain management index (PMI), and Barthel index of activities of daily living (BADL).”
Researchers conducted a retrospective analysis on patients receiving MDT pain management from November 2018 to December 2023. The main outcomes they sought were pain intensity, PMI, pain response, and BADL, which were recorded at baseline and after 2 weeks of MDT interventions. Patients were then defined as responders or nonresponders based on their outcomes following MDT consultation.
A total of 57 patients (mean age, 55.86 years; 61.4% men) with cancer pain were included in the study. Of the 57 patients included, 39 were responders, 18 were nonresponders, and a majority of the population (57.9%) reported severe pain.
“The management of chronic pain is intricate, often demanding the expertise and resources of various disciplines,” they continued.1 “Consequently, a multidisciplinary approach is favored to enhance all aspects of chronic pain management. It had been reported that after cancer pain MDT, the majority of drug-related problems in patients were significantly reduced, and pain scores decreased compared to those without MDT, emphasizing the active role of MDT in cancer pain management.”
Improvements in pain were observed through the reduction of pain intensity scores and increase in pain management index scores. Researchers observed minimal improvements in BADL since it was significantly lowered after MDT treatment. Touching on the most frequently used therapies amongst the study population, opioids were used in 59.6% of patients and 26.56% of the responder group received radiotherapy.
“In this study, the integration of an MDT enabled effective pain management, successfully addressing various aspects of patient care. The significant improvement in pain intensity and the PMI underscored the efficacy of MDT interventions, highlighting their clinical importance,” wrote the authors.1
With significant evidence gathered for MDTs in treating pain, education and training for the providers within those teams are crucial. Researchers suggested that future studies explore advancements in nursing research and education. They also implored that future research focus on the predictive patterns of pain management.
“In summary, cancer pain is complex and often resistant to treatment, selecting an appropriate, personalized treatment plan is frequently necessary. A pain MDT can craft a personalized treatment plan for cancer pain patients, leading to improved symptoms and QOL. However, further prospective studies are needed to explore predictive factors related to pain treatment,” they concluded.1
READ MORE: Pain Management Resource Center
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