Patients value attentiveness of care, as much as they value pain relief itself. Several studies in the postoperative setting have demonstrated high patient satisfaction ratings for pain management, even though a majority of patients described their pain as moderate or severe. Experiences with cancer patients echo these findings. A hospice patient with widespread metastatic thyroid cancer experienced severe boney pain with the slightest movement. Despite this level of pain over many months, he expressed gratitude for the pain-control efforts of his physician and hospice team.
Patients also value perceived control over pain .
Any interventions that increase a sense of control contribute to a good patient experience. Second, we need to show patients how to use non-drug modalities such as the relaxation response to modify their pain. Finally, we should ask patients about their pain on a regular basis throughout the illness. Our attitude of caring is as important as the resulting pain relief. It may be useful in home situations where misuse of opioids is a concern, because the drug can be dosed entirely by visiting staff.