Relationship between prescribed opioids, pain management satisfaction, and pain intensity in oncology outpatients

Background Pain is the most severe and commonest symptom for patients with cancer. Patients’ pain management satisfaction is an essential indicator of quality care and further affects their willingness to seek care. Purpose This study aimed to examine the correlations between patients’ prescribed opioids, pain management satisfaction, and pain intensity. Methods This study adopted a cross-sectional correlation design, recruited a total of 123 patients with cancer pain through convenience sampling, and used two research scales, namely the Chinese version of the Pain Treatment Satisfaction Scale and the Brief Pain Inventory—Short Form. Results The findings indicated that the correlations of prescribed opioid dosage with pain management satisfaction ( r = − .10, p > .05) and pain intensity (worst pain, least pain, average pain, and pain right now; r = − .05 to .01, p > .05) were nonsignificant. The correlations of pain management satisfaction with pain intensity ( r = .24 to .32, p