Pain in CF: Review of the literature

Background: This review evaluated pain research in cystic fibrosis (CF). Methods: OVID MEDLINE, CINAHL, AMED, Web of Science, Pubmed, PsychINFO and PsychARTICLES were searched from January 1995-December 2012 to locate papers assessing pain in CF. A proforma was used to record the rationale for the study, characteristics of the sample, pain assessment tools, pain location, frequency and severity, treatment/self-management, coping and the impact on daily activities and quality of life. Results: All studies (n = 13) were retrospective. Chest and abdominal pains were most commonly reported. Pain was negatively associated with pulmonary exacerbations, quality of life and treatment adherence. Approximately 50% of patients do not consult their GP or CF team about pain, with many patients reporting self-management. Conclusion: A high incidence of pain is reported in CF although there is little standardization of CF pain measurement. The way forward is to develop guidelines on how to assess pain and provide adequate treatment for pain in CF. (C) 2013 European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.