Pain management strategies among cervical cancer patients in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Aim: To describe pain management regulations, prevalence of pain and pain management practices in a Zimbabwean setting. Materials & methods: A multi-methods approach was used, consisting of: policy and guideline review; review of 410 cervical cancer patient records for pain symptoms and pain management data; and semistructured interviews with oncology healthcare practitioners. Results: We found a lack of policies that are specific for cervical cancer pain management. Although prevalence of pain was 68% (n = 278), only 42% of the patient records indicated pain drugs had been prescribed. Barriers to pain management included inadequate use of pain assessment tools, inaccessibility of key drugs and limited capacity. Conclusion: Cancer pain management in Zimbabwe can be improved by tailoring assessment protocols, improving drug accessibility and strengthening healthcare systems.