Effect of a Self-Efficacy-Promoting Program on Pain Management Among Patients with Cancer: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Purpose: To examine the effect of a self-efficacy-promoting program on pain management among patients with cancer.

Methods: A quasi-experimental design was carried out. Fifty-eight participants were recruited by using consecutive sampling and then divided, according to time period, into either the control group or the experimental group, 29 people for each group. Data collection was completed in the control group before starting it in the experimental group to prevent contamination of the experiment. The control group received standard care, whereas the experimental group received a self-efficacy-promoting program. The pain self-efficacy questionnaire was employed to examine patients' self-efficacy, while a numeric rating scale was utilized to evaluate pain levels.

Results: Compared to the control group, the participants in the experimental group had higher pain self-efficacy scores (p < .05) and lower pain levels (p < .05).

Conclusions: The self-efficacy-promoting program effectively improved patients' self-efficacy scores and pain levels. Therefore, the program should be applied in nursing to assist cancer patients with pain management.

Clinical implications: Pain is high prevalence among patients with cancer. Self-efficacy program can be used as a guide and framework for pain management among adult cancer patients in clinical care.