The Impact of Pain Education Interventions for Cancer Survivors and Caregivers: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Simple Summary Implementing educational programs for patients and their caregivers has been suggested as an effective method to help alleviate pain associated with cancer. The purpose of this study was to compile and review the current pain education interventions for cancer patients and their caregivers using a standardized methodological approach, and to evaluate the impact of these interventions on pain. These findings are significant for healthcare professionals as they provide a foundation for motivating cancer patients to engage actively in their treatment. Implementing these results could save time and resources for healthcare providers, thereby enhancing the quality of treatments.Abstract Introduction: Cancer-related pain is a global health-related problem associated with functional impairment, anxiety, depression, and reduced quality of life. The use of educational interventions for patients and their caregivers has been proposed as a promising tool for overcoming pain in cancer. The aim of this study was to summarize by means of a standardized methodological systematic revision the actual pain education intervention used in cancer patients and their caregivers and to analyze its effects on pain. Methods: A search was conducted through PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Cinhal from their inception to September 2022. Randomized controlled trials which included pain education interventions were identified. Two reviewers performed independent data extraction and methodologic quality assessments of these studies. Results: A total of seven studies was included in the study. The meta-analysis showed that pain education interventions have a significant effect on the worst pain; however, there was no effect on average pain. Conclusions: Pain education interventions addressed to patients and their caregivers could have positive effects on cancer-related pain. It is recommended that a minimum of three sessions of about one hour's duration be held once a week. Further research needs to be carried out and analyzed on the effects over the long term. Pain education interventions show positive results in improving pain in cancer patients regardless of etiology or extent of the cancer. Studies with better methodological quality should be carried out to address specific components related to education interventions.