Healthcare professionals' knowledge, understanding and confidence to manage chronic pain after cancer treatment: A UK survey.

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare professionals are vital in preparing people living with and beyond cancer about the risks of chronic pain after cancer treatment. To do so, healthcare professionals need to be knowledgeable and confident about chronic pain after cancer treatment, yet little is known about their understanding or confidence of this common long-term and late side effect of cancer treatment. AIM: To identify healthcare professionals' knowledge and understanding of chronic pain after cancer treatment and consider how confident they are to inform, listen and signpost people living with and beyond cancer to appropriate information and support. METHOD: A cross sectional online survey was distributed to healthcare professionals in the UK via cancer and primary care networks, cancer alliances and social media. The survey consisted of four domains: 1) knowledge and understanding, 2) information and support, 3) confidence and 4) barriers. Quantitative data were analysed with descriptive statistics and free text comments were analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Healthcare professionals reported limited knowledge and understanding of chronic pain after cancer treatment. Healthcare professionals lacked confidence to talk to people about chronic pain after cancer treatment and viewed their lack of knowledge as a barrier. Additional barriers included 'Limited service provision', 'Conflict between services', 'Not my role' and 'Challenges in diagnosing chronic pain in cancer survivors'. CONCLUSION: Chronic pain after cancer can be a significant issue for those living with and beyond cancer, yet healthcare professionals report limited knowledge of it or understanding of the impact. More education is needed to increase healthcare professionals' knowledge and confidence in chronic pain after cancer treatment.

A survey of the supportive care needs of informal caregivers of adult bone marrow transplant patients.

PURPOSE: This study aims to describe the supportive care needs of informal caregivers (ICG) of adult bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients. In addition, we explored relationships between levels of unmet need, psychological morbidity and patient and ICG characteristics. METHODS AND SAMPLE: We invited patients within 24 months of BMT to participate in a cross-sectional survey. Consenting patients asked their ICG to complete and return the questionnaire booklet. Measures included the Supportive Care Needs Survey Partners and Carers and General Health Questionnaire. KEY RESULTS: Two hundred patients were approached, and 98 completed questionnaires were received (response rate = 49 %). We found high unmet need and psychological morbidity among ICGs and an association between ICG unmet need and psychological morbidity. Patient functioning, particularly anxiety and depression, sexual dysfunction and resumption of usual activities impacted on ICG unmet need and psychological morbidity. No associations were found between ICG unmet need and psychological morbidity and the following variables: type of BMT, time from BMT, ICG gender, number of dependents and patient age. CONCLUSION: ICG of BMT patients have high levels of unmet need and psychological morbidity in the months that follow a BMT. This highlights the importance of thorough needs assessment to ensure limited resources are targeted to those most in need.