Barriers Experienced by Community Nurses in Delivering Pain Management to End of Life Adult Cancer Patients

Background: Nurses play an integral role in cancer pain management, alleviating patients’ suffering during end-of-life care through the use of pharmacological and complementary interventions. The community setting presents unique challenges for pain management, making it essential to explore nurses’ perspectives on this topic.

Aim: The primary aim of this study was to investigate nurses’ experiences with barriers to the use of pharmacological and complementary therapies in managing cancer pain in adults receiving end-of-life care in community settings.

Methods: This qualitative research study employed semi-structured interviews with eight nurses working in a National Health Service community care setting focused on end-of-life care. Data were analyzed using a six-stage thematic analysis approach.

Results: Among the eight participants, seven were female, and all held a bachelor’s degree. Three main themes and six sub-themes emerged: (1) barriers related to healthcare professionals and services, (2) barriers associated with families and carers, and (3) the need for enhanced education for nurses.

Conclusion: The study recommends that nurses receive adequate training to effectively manage cancer pain using both pharmacological and complementary therapies.