Patient– and Family Caregiver–Related Barriers to Effective Cancer Pain Control

Cancer is a worldwide health problem. In Jordan, cancer is the second leading cause of death. Approximately 2,000 people die from cancer every year, 70% of them experiencing varying high levels of pain as a result of ineffective pain relief. The purpose of this study was to identify the attitudinal barriers to effective cancer pain relief in patients and their family caregivers in Jordan. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was used. A convenience sample of 300 cancer patients and 246 family caregivers were recruited from four different Jordanian hospitals between August 2009 and May 2010. Patients completed the Arabic version of the Barriers Questionnaire II (ABQ-II), the Arabic Brief Pain Inventory (A-BPI), and a demographic questionnaire. Family caregivers completed the ABQ-II and a demographic questionnaire. The A-BPI results identified that more than 70% of cancer patients in localized stage and more than 90% of patients with advanced cancer experienced substantial pain. Four major barriers to pain control were highlighted: fears related to addiction, side effects, communication concerns, and fatalistic beliefs. This study provides baseline information about the barriers to effective cancer pain control in Jordan.