Trial Information

Improvement of Self Management Skills for Oncologic Patients With Pain Through a Trans Institutional Nursing Intervention: a Cluster Randomized Multi Center Study

According to modified "Precede Model of health behavior" from Green, patients self
management skills are affected by the patients' knowledge, activities and attitude to pain
management.

Therefore, we conduct a cluster randomized clinical trial (C-RCT) that will test the
effectiveness of SCION-PAIN program against care as usual on self pain management of the
patient and average pain level.

As allocation to intervention or control is performed on the level of wards, randomization
is stratified by ward profile (e.g. gynaecological, haematological, urological).

Wards were included if they agreed to participate and had more than 10% patients with a
diagnosis of cancer in 2006. Wards with a pediatric profile were excluded.

Adult oncology patients with persistent pain will be recruited by the nurses of the
participating wards under the guidance of a research nurse. Patients are included in the
trial if they meet the inclusion criteria and sign informed consent. They will receive the
intervention that the respective ward was allocated to.

The SCION-PAIN program as a multi modular structured nursing intervention (see Arm
Description) will be conducted by specially trained ward nurses in cooperation with the
research nurse. The intervention will include components of knowledge, skills training, and
coaching (particularly against patient-related barriers to pain medication) to improve
cancer pain management. Patients in intervention group will receive follow-up telephone
counseling within 2 to 3 days after discharge. The self management skills of the patients
will be observed up to 28 days post discharge. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses
will be conducted to evaluate patient outcomes.