October 27, 2005

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — Physicians and other cancer specialists working with the UC Davis Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care are stepping up their efforts to find more effective pain management techniques thanks to a $1.5 million grant from the American Cancer Society.

Designed to reduce barriers to successful pain control, the new research effort aims to foster improved communication and the partnership between patients and their health-care providers.

"Even as cancer treatment improves, cancer-related pain still affects tens of thousands of Americans annually,” said Richard Kravitz, professor of internal medicine at UC Davis School of Medicine and director of the health services research center. “Cancer patients and their doctors tend to avoid the topic of pain. This project seeks to address communication barriers that interfere with optimal care.”

An estimated 90 percent of cancer patients experience at least moderate pain at some point during their illness, and nearly half of all patients do not receive adequate treatment for that discomfort. Aside from impairing quality of life, uncontrolled pain can contribute to depression, increase the likelihood of suicide, and decrease patient acceptance of potentially beneficial therapies.

Kravitz said the study will compare individualized patient education and coaching with usual care to determine how symptoms and the overall health and comfort of patients can be improved. The research also will focus on how one-on-one instruction might influence a patient's self-confidence and ability to more actively manage their own pain and care.

“Fear of pain is a major factor that increases distress after a cancer diagnosis,” said Kravitz. “We know cancer pain is controllable, but we have to find better ways to get patients to talk about that pain so that doctors can respond effectively. This study has the potential to help cancer patients reduce pain during their treatment.”

Kravitz noted the study will help expand existing research on pain management, confirm the benefits of patient coaching and illuminate the most effective instruction techniques.

The grant is part of the American Cancer Society's 2006 funding program, which covers a broad array of basic, clinical and behavioral investigation areas. The project will be conducted by the UC Davis Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, with assistance from the UC Davis Cancer Center.

The UC Davis Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care was established in 1994 to facilitate policy-relevant research in the areas of health care access, delivery, costs and outcomes. The center's research integrates clinical, social, behavioral, economic and statistical sciences to improve the organization, quality and effectiveness of medical care.