@article { author = {Hamieh, Nadine M and Akel, Reem and Anouti, Bilal and Traboulsi, Cindy and Makki, Iman and Hamieh, Lana and Tfayli, Arafat}, title = {Cancer-Related Pain: Prevalence, Severity and Management in a Tertiary Care Center in the Middle East}, journal = {Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention}, volume = {19}, number = {3}, pages = {769-775}, year = {2018}, publisher = {West Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter.}, issn = {1513-7368}, eissn = {2476-762X}, doi = {10.22034/APJCP.2018.19.3.769}, abstract = {Background: Despite pain awareness and the development of treatment guidelines, cancer-related pain assessmentand management remain suboptimal. Our objectives were to estimate the prevalence and severity of pain and itsinterference with daily activities, and evaluate adequacy of treatment in cancer patients in Lebanon. Methods: Atotal of 400 cancer patients aged 18 and above were interviewed at the American University of Beirut Medical Centersurgical and medical oncology floors, outpatient clinics and chemotherapy units from March 2016-February 2017. Thesubjects covered were socio-demographics, clinical data, and presence of pain in the past month with use of the BriefPain Inventory questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were conducted using t-test, chi-square and Fischer’s exact tests.Pearson’s correlation coefficients were used to examine relationships between pain severity and pain interference.Logistic regression was employed to determine risk factors for pain. Results: The majority of participants were Lebanese(76.0%), females (62.7%), married (80.2%), of Muslim faith (64.2%), of urban residence (85.8%), and with insuranceplans (81.3%). Most had breast cancer (38.8%), were stage 4 (52.7%) and underwent a combination of surgery andsystemic therapy (55.1%). The prevalence of pain in the past month was 29.8%. Among patients with pain, the highestproportion had moderate pain (37.8%) and around 46% received inadequate treatment. Conclusion: More awarenessabout cancer-related pain is needed to improve pain management and encourage referral to palliative care and painspecialists early-on in diagnosis of disease.}, keywords = {Pain,cancer,Prevalence,severity,Lebanon}, url = {https://journal.waocp.org/article_57730.html}, eprint = {https://journal.waocp.org/article_57730_2310c5d0d3faedda51aebe73540a4de4.pdf} }