ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
Pain is composed of multiple dimensions and can affect between 10% and 30% of women with breast cancer. This study evaluated physical, emotional, social, and spiritual pain components of women with breast cancer treated in a reference hospital complex in Pernambuco, Brazil.
METHODS:
An observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted with 43 women diagnosed with breast cancer and treatment started. Pain and its dimensions were assessed by using Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS-r), part of the Brazilian version of McGill questionnaire (Br-MPQ), Spiritual Well-being Scale (SWBS) and a questionnaire for clinical and sociodemographic data.
RESULTS:
The majority (79.07%) of women reported some pain at the time of the interview, with a mean of moderate pain intensity (5.28 ± 3.54). The most used expressions to describe the pain were: tiring (78.57%), nauseating (57.14%), acute (47.62) and sufocating (42.86%). The impact of pain on daily life affected the sub-items: sleep (67.44%), personal hygiene (44.18%), locomotion (48.83%), appetite/food (32.56%); in the social context 55.81% of the interviewees reported some degree of loss in work, 67.44% in leisure activities, 74.91% in domestic activities and 9.30% had early retirement. The spiritual/existential/religious scores were mostly positive.
CONCLUSION:
Physical, emotional, social and spiritual complaints were present in women with breast cancer and indicates the need for an early approach to pain by health professionals, especially physicians.
Keywords:
Breast neoplasms; Palliative care; Physician-patient relations; Spirituality; Women’s health
HIGHLIGHTS
This article analyzed the multidimensional aspects of pain in patients diagnosed with breast cancer.
All patients had physical, emotional, social, and spiritual complaints.
Most healthcare professionals did not address the multidimensional aspects of pain.