Using the Oncology Care Model to Manage Cancer Pain at an Outpatient Oncology Clinic

BACKGROUND: Cancer prevalence and the incidence of cancer pain are increasing. Although individualized care plans have been proposed to help manage cancer pain, minimal research has evaluated their effectiveness. OBJECTIVES: This quality improvement project assessed whether an education session on pain management guidelines from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Oncology Care Model (OCM) increased provider use of care plans and pain management options and patient satisfaction. METHODS: A pre-/postintervention analysis was performed in an outpatient oncology clinic with patients reporting cancer pain. Staff received an education session on the OCM. Quizzes documented staff knowledge, and chart reviews documented use of care plans and pain management options. Patients' pain management satisfaction was assessed via survey. FINDINGS: There was no significant increase in provider use of pain management care plans, and patients' pain scores increased in the postintervention period. These findings likely were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, patients' pain management satisfaction scores and provider use of nonpharmacologic treatment options increased postintervention.