The mediating effect of pain catastrophizing and perceived injustice in the relationship of pain on health-related quality of life in breast cancer survivors

Transdermal Opioids and the Quality of Life of the Cancer Patient: A Systematic Literature Review

OBJECTIVE

This systematic literature review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of transdermal opioids in managing cancer pain and their impact on the quality of life (QoL) of patients.

DATA SOURCES

A systematic literature review conducted following the PRISMA protocol, focusing on randomized clinical trials found in the Lilacs, Embase, PubMed, and SciELO databases over the last 20 years.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION

We included randomized clinical trials, published in English, Portuguese, or Spanish, which assessed the impact of transdermal opioids on the QoL. Data extraction was facilitated using the Rayyan app.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Six articles meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were analyzed. These studies covered a population ranging from 24 to 422 cancer patients experiencing moderate to severe pain. The risk of bias was assessed in each study, generally being categorized as uncertain or high.

RELEVANCE TO PATIENT CARE AND CLINICAL PRACTICE

The findings indicate that the analgesic effectiveness and side effects of transdermal formulations (specifically buprenorphine and fentanyl) for managing moderate to severe cancer pain are comparable to, or in some cases superior to, those of oral opioids traditionally employed.

CONCLUSIONS

Transdermal therapy was suggested to have several advantages over oral opioid therapy in enhancing cancer patients' QoL. These benefits span various dimensions, including pain management, physical functioning, mental health, vitality, overall patient improvement, anger/aversion, strength/activity, general QoL, cognitive and emotional functions, fatigue, and insomnia.

Effect of perceived injustice-targeted pain neuroscience education compared with biomedically focused education in breast cancer survivors: a study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial (BCS-PI trial)

INTRODUCTION

Current treatments for pain in breast cancer survivors (BCSs) are mostly biomedically focused rather than biopsychosocially driven. However, 22% of BCSs with pain are experiencing perceived injustice, which is a known predictor for adverse pain outcomes and opioid prescription due to increased maladaptive pain behaviour. Educational interventions such as pain neuroscience education (PNE) are suggested to target perceived injustice. In addition, motivational interviewing can be an effective behavioural change technique. This trial aims to examine whether perceived injustice-targeted PNE with the integration of motivational interviewing is superior to biomedically focused pain education in reducing pain after 12 months in BCS with perceived injustice and pain. In addition, improvements in quality of life, perceived injustice and opioid use are evaluated, and a cost-effectiveness analysis will finally result in a recommendation concerning the use of perceived injustice-targeted PNE in BCSs with perceived injustice and pain.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This two-arm multicentre randomised controlled trial will recruit female BCS (n=156) with pain and perceived injustice. Participants will be randomly assigned to perceived injustice-targeted PNE or biomedically focused pain education in each centre. Both interventions include an online session, an information leaflet and three one-to-one sessions. The primary outcome (pain), secondary outcomes (quality of life, perceived injustice and outcomes for cost-effectiveness analysis) and explanatory outcomes (pain phenotyping, sleep, fatigue and cognitive-emotional factors) will be assessed at baseline and at 0, 6, 12 and 24 months postintervention using self-reported questionnaires online. Treatment effects over time will be evaluated using linear mixed model analyses. Additionally, a cost-utility analysis will be done from a healthcare payer and societal perspective.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The ethical agreement was obtained from the Main Ethics Committee (B.U.N.1432020000068) at the University Hospital Brussels and all other participating hospitals. Study results will be disseminated through presentations, conferences, social media, press and journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04730154.

Managing Chronic Pain in Cancer Survivorship: Communication Challenges and Opportunities as Described by Cancer Survivors

OBJECTIVES

Many cancer survivors experience chronic pain after completing curative-intent treatment. Based on available data, chronic pain may be undertreated in this context; however, little is known about cancer survivors' experiences with clinical management of chronic pain. The purpose of this study was to better understand cancer survivors' pain management experiences after curative-intent treatment.

METHODS

We conducted 13 semi-structured interviews with a convenience sample of cancer survivors who had completed treatment for stage I-III breast, head/neck, lung or colorectal cancer. We used a thematic approach to qualitative data analysis.

RESULTS

Participants described that chronic pain often goes unrecognized by their providers, potentially due to limitations in how pain is assessed clinically and the tendency of both cancer survivors and providers to minimize or invalidate the pain experience. To improve communication, participants suggested that providers ask more open-ended questions about their pain, help them to establish functional goals, and provide patients with options for pain management.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS

This study demonstrates the importance of provider-initiated communication around pain management for cancer survivors to make them feel more supported in their care. Communication and shared decision-making interventions may improve cancer survivor-provider communication around chronic pain management, addressing an important gap in survivorship care.

The relationships between pain-associated psychological distress, pain intensity, patient expectations, and physical function in individuals with musculoskeletal pain: A retrospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

The presence of pain-associated psychological distress (PAPD) in musculoskeletal disorders, including negative mood, fear-avoidance, and lack of positive affect/coping, is associated with prolonged disability. The importance of considering psychological influence on pain is well known, but practical ways of addressing it are not as straightforward. Identifying relationships between PAPD and pain intensity, patient expectations, and physical function may guide the development of future studies that assess causality and inform clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relationship between PAPD measured by the Optimal Screening for Prediction of Referral and Outcome-Yellow Flag tool, and baseline pain intensity, expectations of treatment effectiveness, and self-reported physical function at discharge.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Hospital-based outpatient physical therapy.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients 18 to 90 years old with spinal pain or lower extremity osteoarthritis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Pain intensity and patient expectations of treatment effectiveness at intake, and self-reported physical function at discharge.

RESULTS

A total of 534 patients, 56.2% female, median (interquartile range [IQR]) age 61 (21) years with an episode of care between November 2019 and January 2021 were included. A multiple linear regression showed a significant association between PAPD and pain intensity with 6.4% (p < .001) of the variance explained. PAPD explained 3.3% (p < .001) of the variance in patient expectations. One additional yellow flag present resulted in a 0.17-point increase in pain intensity and 1.3% decrease in patient expectations. PAPD was also associated with physical function with 3.2% (p < .001) of the variance explained. PAPD explained 9.1% (p < .001) of the variance in physical function at discharge in the low back pain cohort only when assessed independently by body region.

CONCLUSION

These findings support the theory that the pain experience is complex and multiple factors should be considered when evaluating a patient with musculoskeletal pain. Clinicians who have identified PAPD may consider these relationships when planning or modifying interventions and pursuing multidisciplinary collaboration.

The Contribution of Cancer-Specific Psychosocial Factors to the Pain Experience in Cancer Survivors

Palliative care teams are increasingly called up to manage chronic pain in cancer survivors. Chronic pain is common in cancer survivors and is heavily influenced by biopsychosocial factors. This study aimed to determine the relative contribution of unique cancer-specific psychosocial factors, pain catastrophizing, and multisite pain to the pain experience in 41 cancer survivors who completed curative cancer treatment. To test the research hypotheses, a series of nested linear regression models were used with likelihood ratio testing to test the individual and collective contribution of cancer-specific psychosocial factors (fear of cancer recurrence, cancer distress, cancer-related trauma), pain catastrophizing, and the number of pain sites on the pain experience. The results indicate pain catastrophizing and multisite pain explained a significant degree of variance in pain interference scores ( P < .001) and pain severity ( P = .005). Cancer-specific psychosocial factors did not significantly predict variability in pain interference ( P = .313) or pain severity ( P = .668) over and above pain catastrophizing and the number of sites of pain. In summary, pain catastrophizing and multisite pain contribute to the chronic cancer-related pain experienced by cancer survivors. Palliative care nurses are well positioned to improve chronic pain among cancer survivors by assessing and treating pain catastrophizing and multisite pain.

Perceived Injustice in Cancer Survivors: Population-Specific Cut-Off Score and Relations with Personal Factors, Symptoms and Quality of Life-A Cross-Sectional Study

Fatigue and pain are the most common side effects impacting quality of life (QoL) in cancer survivors. Recent insights have shown that perceived injustice (PI) can play a substantial role in these side effects, but research on cancer survivors is scarce. Furthermore, guidelines for recognizing clinically relevant levels of PI in cancer survivors are missing. The aims of this study are to provide a clinically relevant cut-off for PI and to explore relationships between personal characteristics, symptoms, and QoL with PI. This multicenter, cross-sectional study uses the Injustice Experience Questionnaire (IEQ), Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Patient-Specific Complaints (PSC), Multidimensional Fatigue Index (MFI), and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Questionnaire-C30 (EORTC-QLQ-C30). A clinical cut-off for PI was identified based on the 75th percentile of IEQ scores. Univariate and multivariate regressions explored the relationship between PI and personal characteristics (sex, age, cancer type, treatment type), symptoms (pain intensity, fatigue), and QoL (daily activity complaints, cancer-related QoL). Cancer survivors (n = 121) were included, and a cut-off of 20 was identified. Significant indirect associations were found between chemotherapy, NPRS, PSC, MFI, and EORTC-QLQ-C30 with PI. In the multivariate model, only MFI (B = 0.205; 95% CI: 0.125-0.018) and age (B = 0.086; 95% CI: -0.191-0.285) maintained a significant association with PI.

Central Sensitization in Cancer Survivors and Its Clinical Implications: State of the Art

Although the prevalence of cancer pain is 47% after treatment, cancer pain is often underestimated, and many patients are undertreated. The complexity of cancer pain contributes to the lack of its management. Recently, as the mechanism of cancer pain, it has become clear that central sensitization (CS) influences chronic pain conditions and the transition from acute to chronic pain. In this state-of-the-art review, we summarized the association of CS or central sensitivity syndrome with pain and the treatment for pain targeting CS in cancer survivors. The management of patients with CS should not only focus on tissue damage in either the affected body regions or within the central nervous system; rather, it should aim to target the underlying factors that sustain the CS process. Pain neuroscience education (PNE) is gaining popularity for managing chronic musculoskeletal pain and could be effective for pain and CS in breast cancer survivors. However, there is a study that did not demonstrate significant improvements after PNE, so further research is needed. Precision medicine involves the classification of patients into subgroups based on a multifaceted evaluation of disease and the implementation of treatment tailored to the characteristics of each patient, which may play a central role in the treatment of CS.

Perceived injustice and its impact on psychological distress in cancer patients and survivors

PURPOSE

Perceived injustice is a novel psychosocial construct that reflects negative cognitive appraisals of unfairness, externalized blame and the irreparability and severity of one's loss. Previous research has highlighted the negative impact of perceived injustice on recovery and mental health outcomes, particularly in pain-related samples. This study aimed to (i) explore the role of perceived injustice on psychological outcomes in a general cancer population and (ii) describe demographic and psychosocial characteristics associated with perceptions of injustice.

METHODS

The study employed a cross-sectional, observational design. Using a purposive convenience sampling technique, individuals that have or have had cancer completed an online survey assessing perceived injustice (IEQ), psychological distress (HADS), mental adjustment to cancer (Mini-MAC) and satisfaction with care (PSCC) (N = 121).

RESULTS

Levels of perceived injustice were high with 43.2% of the sample scoring in the clinical range. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that perceived injustice contributed unique variance to the prediction of anxiety and depression. Low satisfaction with care, being under the age of 40 and not having children were identified as significant predictors of perceived injustice. Satisfaction with care did not significantly moderate the association between perceived injustice and mental health outcomes but directly impacted anxiety levels.

CONCLUSION

Cancer patients reporting high levels of perceived injustice are at greater risk of feeling psychologically distressed. Prevention and management of injustice perceptions may require interventions targeting specific negative attributions, as well as cancer care in general. Further implications for healthcare practice are discussed.

Preliminary Validation of the Injustice Experience Questionnaire in Patients With Advanced Cancer

CONTEXT

When diagnosed with advanced cancer, patients may perceive their situation as an injustice. The Injustice Experience Questionnaire (IEQ) is a 12-item measure of perceived unfairness originally developed for patients with chronic pain. The factor structure, reliability, and validity of the IEQ in patients with cancer have not been assessed.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the factor structure, internal consistency, and construct validity of the IEQ in patients with advanced cancer.

METHODS

Patients with advanced lung or prostate cancer (N = 201) were recruited from academic and public clinics in Indianapolis, IN. Patients completed the 12-item IEQ and other measures of psychological processes and distress. IEQ instructions were modified to focus on cancer-related perceived injustice. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the dimensionality of the measure. Internal consistency reliability and construct validity were examined.

RESULTS

CFA showed that the original IEQ's 2-factor structure had an adequate fit (RMSEA = 0.07, CFI = 0.96, SRMR = 0.05). The factors included Severity/irreparability and Blame/unfairness. Internal consistency was excellent (α = 0.92, ω = 0.94). The IEQ showed significant positive associations with physical and psychological symptoms (rs = 0.20 - 0.65, Ps < 0.05). The IEQ also showed significant negative associations with quality of life and acceptance of cancer (rs=-0.51 - -0.46, Ps < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Findings provide preliminary support for using the IEQ in patients with advanced cancer. Future research should assess the sensitivity of the IEQ to change in an interventional context.

Predictors of persistent post-surgical pain intensity and interference at 1 year after breast cancer surgery: assessing central sensitization, central sensitivity symptoms, and psychological factors

BACKGROUND

Persistent post-surgical pain (PPSP) is associated with upper limb dysfunction and decreased quality of life and causes long-term suffering for breast cancer survivors after surgery. However, the predictors of PPSP remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine predictors of PPSP intensity and interference at 1 year postoperatively, focusing on treatment-related factors, pre- and postoperative central sensitization (CS), CS-related symptoms (e.g., muscle stiffness, fatigue, sleep disturbances), and psychological factors.

METHODS

Eighty-eight women with planned unilateral breast cancer surgery were included in this longitudinal study. CS, CS-related symptoms, and psychological factors were assessed preoperatively, 1 month postoperatively, and 1 year postoperatively. Analysis of covariance was used to compare the groups with and without PPSP, accounting for treatment-related factors. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of PPSP intensity and interference at 1 year postoperatively.

RESULTS

Even after adjusting for covariates, preoperative and 1-month postoperative Central Sensitization Inventory scores in the PPSP group were significantly higher than scores in the group without PPSP. Multiple regression analysis showed that axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and 1-month postoperative CS-related symptoms were independent predictors of PPSP intensity and interference at 1 year postoperatively (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

We found that ALND and 1-month postoperative CS-related symptoms were predictors of PPSP intensity and interference at 1 year postoperatively.

The Role of Pain Catastrophizing, Emotional Intelligence, and Pain Intensity in the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients with Chronic Pain

Pain catastrophizing (PC) is a negative cognitive distortion to actual or anticipated pain. This study aims to investigate the relationship between pain catastrophizing, emotional intelligence, pain intensity, and quality of life (QoL) in cancer patients with chronic pain. Eighty-nine outpatients with chronic pain attending pain clinics and palliative care units were recruited. Participants were men (42.7%) and women (57.3%) with an average age of 56.44 years (SD = 14.82). Self-report psychological measures were completed, including a measure of emotional intelligence, a standard measure of PC, a scale assessing pain intensity, and a scale measuring QoL. The PC scale was found to assess three correlated yet different dimensions of pain catastrophizing (helplessness, magnification, and rumination). Moreover, as expected, patients with PC scale scores ≥ 30 had lower scores in functional QoL dimensions and higher scores in the fatigue, pain, and insomnia symptom dimensions. Regression analyses demonstrated that PC (B = − 0.391, p = 0.004), pain intensity (B = − 1.133, p < 0.001), and education (B = 2.915, p = 0.017) remained the only significant variables related to QoL, when controlling for demographic and clinical confounders. Regarding mediating effects, PC and pain intensity were jointly found to be significant mediators in the relationship between emotional intelligence and QoL. Results are discussed in the context of the clinical implications regarding interventions designed to improve cancer patients’ quality of life and offer new insight, understanding, and evaluation targets in the field of pain management.

Lifestyle and Pain following Cancer: State-of-the-Art and Future Directions

This review discusses chronic pain, multiple modifiable lifestyle factors, such as stress, insomnia, diet, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity, and the relationship between these lifestyle factors and pain after cancer. Chronic pain is known to be a common consequence of cancer treatments, which considerably impacts cancer survivors' quality of life when it remains untreated. Improvements in lifestyle behaviour are known to reduce mortality, comorbid conditions (i.e., cardiovascular diseases, other cancer, and recurrence) and cancer-related side-effects (i.e., fatigue and psychological issues). An inadequate stress response plays an important role in dysregulating the body's autonomic, endocrine, and immune responses, creating a problematic back loop with pain. Next, given the high vulnerability of cancer survivors to insomnia, addressing and treating those sleep problems should be another target in pain management due to its capacity to increase hyperalgesia. Furthermore, adherence to a healthy diet holds great anti-inflammatory potential for relieving pain after cancer. Additionally, a healthy diet might go hand in hand with weight reduction in the case of obesity. Consuming alcohol and smoking have an acute analgesic effect in the short-term, with evidence lacking in the long-term. However, this acute effect is outweighed by other harms on cancer survivors' general health. Last, informing patients about the benefits of an active lifestyle and reducing a sedentary lifestyle after cancer treatment must be emphasised when considering the proven benefits of physical activity in this population. A multimodal approach addressing all relevant lifestyle factors together seems appropriate for managing comorbid conditions, side-effects, and chronic pain after cancer. Further research is needed to evaluate whether modifiable lifestyle factors have a beneficial influence on chronic pain among cancer survivors.