Congress Abstracts 2005

82

ADDRESSING ONCOLOGICAL PAIN THROUGH A MULTIDISCIPLINARY (MDC) APPROACH. Nancy Lambert, RN, BSN, OCN^®, Christiana Care Health Services, Newark, DE.

Controlling chronic and acute pain in the oncology setting is a crucial step toward improving the quality of life for a patient with cancer. The unique role of the oncology nurse is to establish a trusting relationship in order to support the on going pain assessment which facilitates communication to the physician and allows the maintenance of appropriate pain control.

A community-based survey was sent out to cancer patients served by the HFGCC to establish if a variety of needs were being met and the quality of the service rendered. In this survey, over 50% of the cancer patients reported pain that was not controlled by their oncologist.

As indicated by research and assessments of pain programs, it was recommended that a multidisciplinary team be established to focus solely on cancer patient pain. The “team supplies a comprehensive holistic assessment of the client while maintaining a open communication with the primary oncologist. The Multidisciplinary Team includes three members. The main and prescribing physician is a physiatrist, who specializes in pain management, a psychologist to assess for psychiatric co-morbidities, and an oncology certified nurse whose interest is in quality of pain control. The team establishes a comprehensive pain management program that encompasses every appropriate component of the continuum of care.

Patient evaluation is delivered in a variety of methods. The oncology nurse follows up by telephone to determine if the patient is experience appropriate pain control. When the situation dictates, a home care agency is utilized in assist in monitoring the pain. The patient is re-evaluated by the team in 1–3 weeks. The Pain MDC is evaluated through patient satisfaction survey.

The role of the oncology nurse is implemented by providing an up front pain and bowel assessment, while clarifying any questions that arose when reviewing the patient’s chart and pain assessment form. The oncology nurse serves as vital conduit to the physician and home care agency for pain management adjustments.