Abstract:
Introduction: Globally, cancer is the second leading cause of death and was
responsible for 9.6 million deaths in 2018. Worldwide, 2 million people experience
pain every day, and cancer pain is one of the major neglected public health
problems, especially in Ethiopia. Despite reporting the burden and risk factors of
cancer pain as a principal importance, there are limited studies. Therefore, this
study aimed to assess the prevalence of cancer pain and its associated factors
among adult patients evaluated at the oncology ward in the University of Gondar
Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, northwest Ethiopia.
Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 January
to 31 March 2021. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the
total sample size of 384 patients. Data were collected using pretested and
structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate logistic
regression models were fitted to identify the factors associated with cancer pain
among patients with cancer. An adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% CI was
computed to determine the level of significance.
Results: A total of 384 study participants were involved, with a response rate of 97.5%.
The proportion of cancer pain was found to be 59.9% (95% CI 54.8–64.8). The odds of
cancer pain were escalated by anxiety (AOR = 2.52, 95% CI 1.02–6.19), patients with
hematological cancer (AOR = 4.68, 95% CI 1.30–16.74), gastrointestinal cancer
(AOR = 5.15, 95% CI 1.45–18.2), and stages III and IV (AOR = 14.3, 95% CI 3.20–63.7).Conclusion: The prevalence of cancer pain among adult patients with cancer in northwest
Ethiopia is relatively high. Variables such as anxiety, types of cancer, and stage of cancer had
a statistically significant association with cancer pain. Hence, to advance the management of
pain, it is better to create more awareness regarding cancer-related pain and provide
palliative care early on in the diagnosis of the disease.
