Chronic cancer pain in adult oncology centers of Northern Ethiopia: prevalence, determinants, and clinical impact - a multi-center cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain significantly affects a person's quality of life, interferes with treatment adherence, and substantially increases healthcare costs. There are limited data on the prevalence, risk factors, and impacts of chronic pain in Northern Ethiopia. METHODS: Following ethical approval, a multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in Northern Ethiopia. The impact of chronic cancer pain was assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory Short Form. Binary logistic regression was employed to determine associations with chronic cancer pain. A P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Among 397 participants, 237 (59.7%) reported chronic cancer pain, and 46.4% reported moderate to severe pain. Chronic cancer pain was significantly associated with female gender [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.3], primary education (AOR = 2.4), and secondary education (AOR = 2.7), respectively. Breast cancer (AOR = 3.0), gynecologic cancer (AOR = 2.3), lung cancer (AOR = 2.5), genitourinary cancer (AOR = 4.0), and head or neck cancers (AOR = 2.6) also showed positive associations. Additionally, stage IV cancers increased the risk (AOR = 2.2). Patients with chronic cancer pain reported impaired physical activity, increased anxiety and depression, poorer sleep quality, and reduced enjoyment of life compared to those without chronic pain. CONCLUSION: Chronic cancer pain is prevalent in Northern Ethiopia, disproportionately affecting women, patients with lower education, and those with specific or advanced cancers. It substantially impairs physical, mental, and overall quality of life. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted pain management and supportive care strategies to improve outcomes for high-risk cancer patients.