Samara H, O’Hara L, Singh K. Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes about Adult Post-Operative Pain Assessment and Management: Cross Sectional Study in Qatar.
NURSING REPORTS 2024;
14:2061-2071. [PMID:
39189283 PMCID:
PMC11348211 DOI:
10.3390/nursrep14030153]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Pain is a complex and challenging phenomenon. People have different pain experiences, but everyone has the right to effective pain management. Pain assessment and management are integral components of a nurse's role.
AIM
To assess the knowledge and attitudes of nurses in Qatar about adult post-operative patients' pain assessment and management, and the factors that may be associated with such knowledge and attitudes.
METHODS
Post-operative registered nurses from all peri-operative areas at Hamad Medical Corporation participated in a cross-sectional online survey using a self-administered questionnaire. A knowledge and attitudes (K&A) score was calculated. Associations between K&A and potential explanatory variables were assessed using t-tests and one-way ANOVA.
RESULTS
A total of 151 post-operative nurses participated in the study. The mean knowledge and attitudes (K&A) score was 19.6 ± 4.5 out of 41 (48%), indicating a large deficit in nurses' knowledge and attitudes about adult post-operative pain. There were no statistically significant differences in the mean K&A scores of participants based on gender, nationality, education level, marital status, workplace facility, current job designation, or hours of pain education.
CONCLUSIONS
There is a significant deficit in post-operative nurses' knowledge and attitudes about pain across the nursing workforce in post-operative care. Implications for nursing education and policy: Evidence-based, innovative nursing education courses are needed to improve nurses' knowledge and attitudes about pain assessment and management. Health service policy is required to ensure that evidence-based in-service education on pain management is compulsory for all nurses. This study was not registered.
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