https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6140-5069
Abstract
Context
Pain is a common and distressing symptom among cancer patients. Opioid analgesics are the mainstay of cancer pain management, and adequate adherence plays an important role in achieving good pain control.
Purpose
To determine the level of adherence to opioid analgesics in patients with cancer pain and to identify factors that may influence the adherence.
Patient and Methods
This was a cross-sectional study conducted from March to June 2018 at two tertiary care hospitals in Malaysia. Study instruments consisted of a set of validated questionnaires; the Medication Compliance Questionnaire, Brief Pain Inventory and Pain Opioid Analgesic Beliefs─Cancer scale.
Results
A total of 134 patients participated in this study. The patients’ adherence scores ranged from 52–100%. Factors with a moderate, statistically significant negative correlation with adherence were negative effect beliefs (rs= −0.53, p<0.001), pain endurance beliefs (rs = −0.49, p<0.001) and the use of aqueous morphine (rs = −0.26, p=0.002). A multiple linear regression model on these predictors resulted in a final model which accounted for 47.0% of the total variance in adherence (R2 = 0.47, F (7, 126) = 15.75, p<0.001). After controlling for other variables, negative effect beliefs were the strongest contributor to the model (β = −0.39, p<0.001) and uniquely explained 12.3% of the total variance.
Conclusion
The overall adherence to opioid analgesics among Malaysian patients with cancer pain was good. Negative effects beliefs regarding cancer pain and opioids strongly predicted adherence.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank the Director General of Health Malaysia for his permission to publish this article. We would also like to express our heartfelt gratitude to patients who participated in this study.
Disclosure
The authors have no financial or other conflict of interest to disclose. This study was not funded by any organisation.