Nursing Support for Patients with Cancer Pain in Japanese Palliative Care Units

Strategic Insights -

A recent study conducted in Japan explored the practices of nursing support for patients with cancer pain in palliative care units. The research team, led by Kyoto University, conducted a nationwide online survey of registered nurses working in these care units. The study aimed to assess the frequency of care implementation for various nursing support items, including comfort care, positioning adjustments, and specialized skills. The findings suggest that comfort care and positioning adjustments were frequently provided to patients with a prognosis of months or weeks, while support options requiring specialized skills were less frequently implemented.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that approximately 80% of nurses frequently provide comfort care, including environmental adjustment, mental health care, and oral care, for patients with cancer pain who have a prognosis of months or weeks.
  • Positioning adjustments, such as adjusting postures and positions, were also frequently implemented by nurses, with approximately 80% of responders indicating frequent provision.
  • Support options requiring specialized skills, such as acupuncture, physical therapy, and psychological support, were less frequently implemented by nurses.
  • The study involved 389 palliative care units nationwide, with 162 participating in the survey. A total of 539 nurses (22.3% of invited participants) responded to the survey.
  • The study's findings suggest that nursing support practices can be improved to better meet the needs of patients with cancer pain, particularly those with a prognosis of months or weeks.

Statistics:

  • 22.3% of invited nurses (539 out of 2,448) responded to the survey.
  • 162 palliative care units participated in the nationwide online survey.
  • 389 palliative care units were invited to participate in the survey.
  • Approximately 80% of nurses frequently provide comfort care and positioning adjustments for patients with cancer pain.
  • The implementation frequencies for the 23 nursing support items were almost the same for patients with a prognosis anticipated in the scale of weeks or months.

Sources:

  • Nursing Practice for Patients with Cancer Pain with Predicted Prognosis of Months or Weeks: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study in Japan. Palliative Medicine Reports, 2025,6(1):129-136.
  • Kyoto University, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
  • Miharu Morikawa, Masamitsu Kobayashi, Kohei Kajiwara, Kimiko Nakano, Yusuke Kanno, Yoshinobu Matsuda, Jun Kako.
  • Mary Ann Liebert.