An Investigation of Nursing Studies on Pain in Cancer in Turkey: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The aim of the study is to examine the national nurses' work on pain in cancer in Turkey between 2007 and 2017 and to present the current situation and provide an overview of the work to be done in this area. This study is a literature review based on the PRISMA-P (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis Protocols) flow scheme for nursing research into pain symptoms in cancer. The literature review was conducted in June and July 2018. In order to reach the researches, the “ULAKBIM Turkish Medical Index”, “Google Academic,” and “Higher Education Institution (YÖK)” thesis center databases were searched from national databases. The keywords "cancer", "nursing," and "pain" were used while searching. While being evaluated, studies on general cancer symptoms were excluded from the research, and studies on pain were included. It was determined that there are 13 studies meeting the inclusion criteria as a result of the evaluation. Of the reviewed studies, there were six descriptive studies, four experimental studies, one quasi-experimental study, and two methodological studies. In these studies, most of the data were collected by the questionnaire method and/or face-to-face interview technique. Progressive muscle relaxation exercise, aromatherapy massage, and the acupress method were applied by creating an intervention and control group in interventional research. In descriptive studies, secondary symptoms associated with cancer pain, affecting factors, and coping situations were generally examined. In methodological studies, a multidimensional inventory was used to assess pain, and a scale was used to identify the obstacles caused by the patient in pain management. Most of the studies included all types of cancer in the sample. “Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)” was used to evaluate the pain. As a result the studies examined, it was concluded that aromatherapy massage, reflexology, progressive muscle relaxation exercise, acupressure, and education given to patients are effective in reducing cancer-related pain. It was determined that the majority of nursing studies conducted toward pain were theses and were often performed by clinical nurses in the field of oncology in Turkey. It is thought that evidence-based and interventional studies on pain management are needed in future studies.