Cultural aspects and the pain experience

Abstract

The aim of this investigation was to examine the influence of cultural factors in the pain intensity. Patients presenting advanced cancer and pain, under treatment in an outpatients oncologic unit were evaluated. Pain and cultural factors were evaluated through interviews based on the use of instruments adapted to portuguese language: Patient Pain Questionnaire. Pain lasted 10 months as an average. It was moderate in the majority of patients and severe in 1/5 of them. Cultural misconceptions about the impossibility of cancer pain control and the idea that doctors prescribe excessive amount of analgesics, were correlated with higher intensities of pain (p<0,05).