Total pain: a reflective case study addressing the experience a terminally ill adolescent

摘要

This article is a reflective case study of the symptom control strategies implemented by a hospice team caring for Jack, a teenage male with metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer who was experiencing severe pain. The concept of a 'total' approach to pain assessment and management is introduced and Jack's pain is analysed in the context of total pain, including the psychological, social, spiritual, and physical dimensions that contributed to his overall pain experience during his final months. This paper examines the elements of Jack's life that caused him anxiety and triggered pain episodes, including familial and cultural issues, and discusses the pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions used by the hospice to address these. The article demonstrates how the care delivered by local services was informed by UK strategies for palliative and oncological care of young people.