Table 3.
Characterization of BTP, and Triggering and Relieving Factors According to Patients’ Self-report.
| Descriptors of BTP,a n (%) | |
| Shooting | 35 (38.0) |
| Sharp | 32 (34.8) |
| Stabbing | 20 (21.7) |
| Aching | 18 (19.6) |
| Heavy/Squeezing | 17 (18.5) |
| Throbbing | 13 (14.1) |
| Gnawing | 11 (12.0) |
| Crampy | 9 (9.8) |
| Hot-burning | 9 (9.8) |
| Sickening | 9 (9.8) |
| Terrible/Cruel | 9 (9.8) |
| Tiring/Exhausting | 7 (7.6) |
| Fearful | 5 (5.4) |
| Something else | 15 (16.1) |
| Triggering factors,a n (%) | |
| Movement in bed | 36 (39.1) |
| No specific trigger | 23 (25.0) |
| Coughing | 13 (14.1) |
| Sitting | 11 (12.0) |
| Standing | 11 (12.0) |
| Walking | 11 (12.0) |
| Touching skin areas | 10 (10.9) |
| Bowel movement/Urinating | 10 (10.9) |
| Not sure | 7 (7.6) |
| Breathing | 5 (5.4) |
| Scheduled pain medication wearing off | 5 (5.4) |
| Swallowing | 5 (5.4) |
| Eating | 3 (3.3) |
| Vomiting | 1 (1.1) |
| Something else | 21 (22.6) |
| Relieving factors,a n (%) | |
| As needed BTP medications | 73 (79.4) |
| Scheduled pain medications | 62 (67.4) |
| Sleeping | 13 (14.1) |
| Lying down/Sitting/Rolling up | 13 (14.1) |
| Applying heat/Cold | 5 (5.4) |
| Massage | 5 (5.4) |
| Bowel movement/Urinating | 4 (4.4) |
| Moving | 4 (4.4) |
| I don’t know | 4 (4.4) |
| Avoiding coughing | 3 (3.3) |
| Breathing | 1 (1.1) |
| Something else | 16 (17.4) |
Abbreviation: BTP, breakthrough pain.
a
The sum is higher than the number of patients because several patients reported more than 1 descriptor, or triggering or relieving factors for their BTP.