Adequacy of cancer-related pain management among hospitalized patients in Oman: A cross-sectional study from the Middle East.

PURPOSE: To (1) assess the adequacy of cancer-related pain management among hospitalized adult patients with cancer in Oman and (2) examine the association between pain-management adequacy and psychological distress.

METHODS

A descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional design was used with a convenience sample of 202 in-patients with cancer recruited from two tertiary oncology centers in Oman between June and September 2024. Cancer-related pain management was evaluated using the Pain Management Index (PMI), which compares the potency of prescribed analgesics, based on the World Health Organization analgesic ladder, with patients' reported worst pain intensity. Pain intensity and interference were measured with the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form, and anxiety and depression with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of inadequate pain management (PMI <0).

RESULTS

Pain, anxiety, and depression prevalences were high, and the mean PMI score suggested overall inadequate pain management. Pain most commonly interfered with sleep, normal work, and general activity. Longer time since diagnosis was associated with higher odds of adequate pain management, whereas greater interference in relations with other people was associated with lower odds. Adequacy of pain management showed a weak negative association with anxiety and no significant association with depression.

CONCLUSIONS

Among hospitalized patients with cancer in Oman, cancer-related pain was highly prevalent and undertreated, in the context of psychological distress. Holistic, culturally sensitive interventions that optimize analgesic prescribing while concurrently addressing anxiety, depression, and social relationships are needed to improve pain control, quality of life, and overall well-being in this population.