Pain assessment : the role of the radiation therapist

Abstract

The focus of this study is the role of the Radiation Therapist (RTT) in the assessment of pain in cancer patients. The study was carried out at a Radiotherapy Department of a large Teaching Hospital in Ghana and addressed the following research questions; 1) What is the role of the RTT in the assessment of pain in cancer patients, 2) Why should the RTTs’ role be extended to include pain assessment, 3) What are the challenges for the RTT when taking on the role of pain assessment in radiation oncology and 4) How can pain assessment become a routine role for the RTT in a busy radiation oncology department? 5) How would this extended role of the RTT assist management of patient? This study was conducted because many cancer patients suffer pain and to many, it can be more debilitating than the primary disease itself. The RTTs who are involved in the daily management of cancer patients during their radiation treatment can find it stressful to witness their patients going through such pain particularly when they do not have a role in the management of pain. In Ghana, there are few radiation oncologists (ROs) and therefore an extended scope for RTTs, that includes pain assessment and a meaningful contribution to the management of their patients’ pain, would be advantageous to all. A mixed method research approach was adopted for gathering quantitative and qualitative data. This included data collection of; interview, observation and review of existing document. A pain questionnaire SF-MPQ-2 by Melzack (2009) was adapted as a tool for assessing pain in the study participants.