IMPACCT:Supporting People to Manage Their Cancer Pain v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Improving the Management of Pain from Advanced Cancer in the Community (IMPACCT): Supporting People to Manage Their Cancer Pain-A Feasibility Study
IRAS ID
160488
Contact name
Michael Bennett
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
This study is part of a research programme aimed at reducing pain-related distress and pain-related hospital admissions among patients with advanced cancer in the community. The overall research objectives are to: develop an in-depth understanding of the care pathway for pain management; review evidence relating to patients' and carers' pain management strategies and their experience of pain management education; examine existing systems for identifying and coordinating support and treatment for cancer-related pain and barriers that exist at professional and system level in providing an appropriate response. Many patients with advanced cancer experience unrelieved pain significantly impacting on health and life quality. Although there exists a method for cancer pain relief developed over two decades ago that has been shown to be effective for a majority of patients, evidence suggests that poor implementation, including in the NHS, is preventing effective pain management. Barriers exist at every level. Patients are reluctant to complain about pain, have unfounded fears about addiction to strong pain relief resulting in poor
compliance with medication; caregivers lack knowledge about effective pain management; healthcare professionals experience difficulties in assessing, and responding effectively to pain; and systems for communicating information
about pain and coordinating a response between professionals, are poor. Building on patient experiences of pain,current practices of community professionals in managing it, alongside other elements of the programmes (a qualitative synthesis of the research evidence relating to professionals' knowledge, ability and attitudes toward delivering educational interventions in advanced disease), we will develop a model for intervention that is feasible and acceptable in routine care.REC name
North East - York Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NE/1152
Date of REC Opinion
25 Sep 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion