Congress Abstracts 2006

235

GENDER DIFFERENCES IN PAIN EXPERIENCE AMONG CAUCASIAN AND ASIAN CANCER PATIENTS. Young Hee Kim, RN, PhD, Hyunjeong Shin, PhD, RN, Kyung Suk Kim, PhD, RN, Wonshik Chee, PhD, and Eun-Ok Im, PhD, MPH, RN, CNS, FAAN, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX.

Studies have reported inconsistent findings on gender difference in cancer pain experience: some reported certain gender differences while others reported no difference. Furthermore, women's pain tended to be ignored and inadequately treated.

The aims for this study were to (a) determine gender differences in self-reported cancer pain, symptoms accompanying pain, and functional status, and (b) explore commonalities and differences in cancer pain experience between women and men.

Feminist approach was used to explore gender differences in cancer pain experience

Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study including both quantitative and qualitative phases. A total of 262 participants for the quantitative phase were recruited through the Internet and e-mail system using a convenience sampling method, and 41 participants among them were recruited for the qualitative phase.

Analysis: The quantitative data were analyzed using ANCOVA, and the qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

The quantitative findings indicated that there was no significant gender difference in cancer pain, symptoms accompanying pain, and functional status. The qualitative findings indicated five categories that contrasted women's cancer pain experience from men's cancer pain experience: (a) gender differences in the meanings of cancer pain; (b) gender differences in attitudes toward cancer pain; (c) problems in pain management regardless gender; (d) controlling cancer pain in women and men; (e) gender differences in pain characteristics. The categories reflected the subtle differences of nuance but important in women's cancer pain experience. The findings suggest that nurses need to respect women's own perceived needs and attitudes influencing their cancer pain experience.