Gender Differences in Experienced Pain,Mood,Energy,Appetite,and Sleep by Cancer Patients in Palliative Care

Abstract

Purpose:

The aim was to study gender differences in pain and quality indicators of terminally ill cancer patients in advanced home care.

Method:

A descriptive, not randomised study with self-reported questionnaires about experiences of pain, energy, mood, appetite, and sleep. The 27 patients filled in the questionnaires every day during a period for 4 weeks.

Main research variables:

Pain was measured with VAS (Visual Analogue Scale). The quality indicators, such as mood, energy, appetite, and sleep were measured on the DT-scale (Delighted Terrible-scale).

Findings:

Women experienced significantly more pain over time than men, and overall the results showed significant gender differences in the correlation between pain and quality indicators.

Conclusions:

Both women and men with cancer spent their last time in life in low QoL (Quality of Life) in a state of moderate pain. Despite their hopeless situation in life the estimated experience of quality was around 50% of the highest possible value.

Implications for Nursing Practice:

If patients with cancer are spending their last time in life with a poor QoL and with persistent experience of pain, it is of great importance that nurses are educated in palliative care. From this study it has been shown that the value and special nature of nurses' role encompasses several dimensions, but the skill of providing comprehensive care is to be based on knowledge, wisdom, and personal strength. Therefore it will be a great challenge for nurses to handle and support the patients to perform this kind of care.