Using a mixed methods approach to explore factors associated with evidence-based cancer pain management practice among nurses

Establishing Performance Evaluation for Quality Inspection of Specialty Nurses

PURPOSE

The present study aimed to establish an index system for the performance evaluation of specialty nurses (SNs) in tertiary hospitals.

BACKGROUND

An objective index system for performance evaluation of SN has not yet been established in China.

DESIGN

A 2-round Delphi survey sought opinions from experts about the index system for SNs' performance evaluation in tertiary hospitals in China.

METHODS

Delphi survey was used to inquire approximately 20 experts from the fields of nursing management, nursing education, and clinical nursing. We determined the weight coefficient of each index of performance evaluation based on the opinion. Finally, the index of the quality evaluation was established for SN.

RESULTS

A total of 20 experts from 10 provinces in China reached a consensus on the tertiary indexes of the assessment model. The indexes contained first-level (4), second-level (16), and third-level (24) indicators. The 4 aspects of the performance evaluation, including clinical specialist practice assessment, nursing research, education assessment, medical cooperation recognition, and personal comprehensive ability assessment, reached consensus.

CONCLUSION

Establishing the performance evaluation for SNs aided the SNs in achieving the best clinical practice after training. The performance evaluation still needed to be continuously improved.

Pain and Spirituality Outcomes Among Women With Advanced Breast Cancer Participating in a Foot Reflexology Trial

OBJECTIVES

To examine pain and spirituality, demographic and clinical factors associated with pain and spirituality, the contribution of spirituality to experiences of pain over time, and how pain and spirituality relate to engagement with a caregiver-delivered intervention.

SAMPLE & SETTING

Women with advanced breast cancer (N = 256) enrolled in a home-based randomized controlled trial of foot reflexology.

METHODS & VARIABLES

Secondary analyses were conducted with baseline and postintervention data. Stepwise model building, linear mixed-effects modeling, and negative binomial regression were used.

RESULTS

Participants who were younger, not married or partnered, not employed, or receiving hormonal therapy had increased odds of higher pain levels. Those who were older, non-White, or Christian had increased odds of higher spirituality. Spirituality's contribution to pain was not significant over time.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING

Women in this sample experienced moderate pain, on average, at baseline. Women with specific demographic and clinical characteristics may require additional support with pain management and spiritual care.

The Mediating Effect of Model-Based Learning on Attitude and Pain Management Awareness Among Nurses During COVID 19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia

Background

All hospitals are required to provide high-quality pain management; one of the most critical issues in achieving high-quality pain management is that the hospitals have a clear plan to manage the patients’ pain and improve the nurses’ awareness of pain management during the COVID 19 pandemic. However, there is a significant gap in the literature that this study can cover.

Aim

This study aimed to investigate the mediating effect of model-based learning on nurses’ attitudes toward nurses’ pain management awareness during the COVID 19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia government hospitals.

Method

The Heath Beliefs Model was used, with a quasi-experimental design, with per experimental one group pre-test post-test design, and a quantitative approach using self-administered questionnaires obtained from 330 nurses working with patients suffering from pain. IBM SPSS V23 and Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS)V23 were applied to analyze the causal relationships between the variables.

Results

A two-step approach to analyze the study: the first step was to test the measurement models’ constructs’ reliability and validity. The second step was to test research hypotheses in the structural models. The results show a significant positive relationship between model-based learning and pain management awareness among nurses during COVID 19 pandemic. Furthermore, model-based learning fully mediated the relationship between nurses’ attitudes and pain management awareness.

Conclusions

The study successfully improved nurses’ attitudes toward pain management awareness among nurses during COVID 19 pandemic. These findings will help strengthen the debate in the existing literature, and this is a new development window in the pain management area.

A Scoping Review of Pain Management Education Programs (PMEPs): Do They Prepare Nurses to Deal with Patients' Postoperative Pain?

This is a report of a scoping review undertaken to obtain an overview of studies conducted on pain management education programs (PMEPs). The aim of this review was to describe existing research publications relating to PMEP to map how pain management practice training might directly influence surgical nurses in contributing to successful pain outcomes in patients. The initial search of electronic databases identified 40 articles according to the inclusion criteria and search strategy, which applied the following terms: (“Pain management education program”) AND^∗ OR^∗ (“Nurses”) AND^∗ OR^∗ (“Patient outcomes”) AND^∗ (“Mixed methods”). Titles, abstracts, and keywords were also searched for the term “Nurse education.” After applying exclusion criteria, five relevant peer-reviewed articles were eventually selected for the final charting of the data. The search included articles published between January 2015 and March 2019. The results show that PMEPs employ a variety of computer-based simulation, web-based facilitation, and video materials based on an evidence-based approach in their syllabuses. PMEPs were shown to enhance practice by promoting improved skills in critical thinking, leadership, patient management, and health promotion. Additionally, these programs promote an ability to practice across a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings, wherein nurses' engagement in managing patients' pain increased after completing the PMEP. Research within PMEP indicates that these programs may contribute to promoting opportunities for new collaborations within multidisciplinary team projects. Additionally, further research initiatives are needed to explore various aspects of these programs to enhance the nursing skills required for effective pain management, such as computer-based simulation, web-based facilitation, and video materials. Moreover, research relating to PMEPs in low- and middle-income countries is scarce and warrants further study.