Nurses’ Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Pain in Emergency Departments: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Background

Effective pain management needs a strong base of pain-related knowledge and an optimal attitude toward pain, which could have a critical impact during treatment course.

Aims

To investigate emergency nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding pain and to compare pain-related knowledge and pain-related attitudes among emergency nurses working in the government and private hospitals.

Design and Method

A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. A total number of 175 nurses (84 from private hospitals, 91 from governmental hospitals) recruited through a convenient sampling method. Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain was used to collect data. The data were collected in 2017.

Results

It was found that the mean scores of Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain was 16.64 (SD= 4.94). Results revealed that nurses working in private hospitals have higher scores on Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain (M=17.59, SD= 5.6) than nurses working in governmental hospitals (M=15.75, SD= 4.08) (p-value <0.05). There was a significant difference among nurses’ scores on Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain which is attributed to nurses’ age and their educational level (p-value <0.05).

Finding and Conclusion

Nurses working in emergency departments have a knowledge and attitudes deficits regarding pain management. In-service educational programs about pain management are recommended for all nurses in every health care setting.

Keywords: Attitude, Knowledge, Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain, Nurses, Pain, Pain management