Teaching people about cancer pain eased pain a little, pooled studies found

The review

1. 01

   Who took part

   The review covered 21 studies with 3,501 adults who had cancer pain. Most of the studies were in North America, and most of the people were women.

2. 02

   What they did

   Most people had one-to-one coaching on cancer pain and painkillers. Most also got a booklet to keep. People were checked again one to 26 weeks later, usually about four weeks.

3. 03

   What happened

   Average pain was about one point lower on a 0 to 10 scale, and worst pain about 0.8 lower. Knowledge and views improved more than in the other groups, but taking medicines as prescribed showed no clear benefit. Pain getting in the way of daily life showed no clear benefit either, and the studies varied a lot.

What the review found

1. Helped

   In nine studies, teaching helped people know more and feel better about painkillers than usual care did.

   • Action: Learn how the problem workstested
   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Pooled analysis of 9 studies · vs usual care or similar contact · they rated themselves · ⚠ the studies disagreed a lot; whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited; mixes trials with other kinds of study

2. Helped

   In 12 studies, the teaching cut average pain more than usual care or similar contact did.

   • Action: Learn how the problem workstested
   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Pooled analysis of 12 studies · vs usual care or similar contact · they rated themselves · ⚠ the studies disagreed a lot; whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited; mixes trials with other kinds of study

3. Helped

   Across the pooled studies, the teaching lowered worst pain more than usual care or similar contact did.

   • Action: Learn how the problem workstested
   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Pooled analysis of 0 studies · vs usual care or similar contact · they rated themselves · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited; mixes trials with other kinds of study

Source