Palliation: the Effect of Education on Pain

Rationale: Although radiotherapy is an effective palliative treatment for patients with painful bone metastases with over 70% responders, pain intensity is not always sufficiently controlled. Recent analyses from the randomized Dutch Bone Metastasis Study on 1157 patients show that during weekly follow up, 35% of the patients remain above a pain intensity level of 4 on a numeric rating scale (range 0-10) despite pain medication. According to the WHO criteria, a pain intensity of 5 or higher prompts treatment. As advised in the CBO guideline 'Pijn bij Kanker' educating patients can improve patient empowerment and thereby pain control. However, the effect of a nurse-led education of patients undergoing palliative radiotherapy for painful bone metastases has not been investigated yet. Objective: This project investigates whether nurse-led pain education in addition to standard care results in better control of pain in patients referred for palliative radiotherapy. Study design: A national multicenter phase 3 study (n=450). Study population: Patients with painful bone metastases referred for short schedule radiotherapy. Intervention: Patients will be randomized between standard care or standard care with the Pain Education Program, a nurse-led pain education. The pain Education Program will be provided on the same day the radiotherapeutic treatment will start. The nurse will first assess the knowledge of a patient based on a structured interview. Thereafter, lacunas will be taught using the 'Pijninstructie Programma' (Pain Education Program). In addition, nurses will telephone patients at regular intervals during follow-up to monitor their needs. Main study parameters/endpoints: The primary outcome of this randomized multicenter study is a decrement of the number of patients whose worst pain intensity remains above 4 at any time during the 12 weeks of follow up with regard to the control group. The secondary outcome is improvement of quality of life. Nature and ex