Impact of an Educational Program on the Knowledge and Attitude About Pain Assessment and Management Among Critical Care Nurses

Abstract

Background Pain assessment and management are imperative parts of nursing care and considered as one of the most fundamental patient rights. The role of pain management education is well established in improving knowledge and attitude among nurses. Objectives This study aims to evaluate the impact of pain management educational program on the knowledge and attitudes of intensive care unit (ICU) staff nurses toward pain assessment and management. The baseline score of pain assessment and management knowledge and attitude of ICU nurses has been identified in a previous research, and the result showed immense lack of knowledge and poor attitudes among ICU nurses toward pain assessment and management when dealing with ICU patients. Methods This is a pretest-posttest experimental study, utilizing a self-reporting questionnaire tool to obtain information about nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward pain assessment and management after implementation of new pain management educational program for critical care nurses. Data were collected using the Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain tool that measures knowledge with 22 question items and measures attitude with 17 question items. Paper-based questionnaire was distributed to nurses for data collection. Results and Conclusion The results showed significant improvement in knowledge and attitudes about pain assessment and management among ICU nurses; it was evident after delivering pain management education program. At baseline, 204 ICU nurses gave consent and completed the questionnaire and thus included in baseline measurement before implementing the intervention. In the postintervention measurement, the questionnaire was distributed to the same participants included in the baseline phase from which 181 participants completed the questionnaire for the second time, with a response rate of 89%; the deficits and preconception in pain assessment and management can be improved through implementing pain management educational programs.

Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Pain Management among ICU Nurse’s

“…A recent study aimed to assess the effectiveness of pain management education program among nurses working in ICU. The study found that the program was effective in increasing the knowledge level and attitudes of ICU nurses to be more positive toward pain management the (16).…”

Barriers and enablers of intensive care unit nurses' assessment and management of patients' pain

“…Other studies showed variation in the topics covered in pain education 24,[26][27][28] ; however, there was a consensus about the importance of training and education on pain-related topics to improve nurses' knowledge and practices in pain assessment and management. 29,30 In a study conducted in 2012 by Al Qadire and Al Khalaileh, 31 it was found that 52% of Jordanian nurses reported no previous pain education in the last 5 years. It must be pointed out that 54% of the ICU nurses in this study perceived "ongoing education on pain" as an enabler of pain assessment and management.…”

“…Kizza et al 27 have shown that very few nurses had ever read any pain assessment and management guidelines or received education on practice guidelines for pain assessment and management, while Rose et al 28 found that pain assessment methods and tools were the topics covered for the greatest number of ICU nurses. Other studies showed variation in the topics covered in pain education 24,26‐28 ; however, there was a consensus about the importance of training and education on pain‐related topics to improve nurses' knowledge and practices in pain assessment and management 29,30 . In a study conducted in 2012 by Al Qadire and Al Khalaileh, 31 it was found that 52% of Jordanian nurses reported no previous pain education in the last 5 years.…”

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

“…Furthermore, from the previous studies using learning is a vital method to find a solution for pain management problems. One research conducted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the critical care area to assess the impact of educational programmes on the nurses’ knowledge and attitude toward pain management, and the results showed substantial improvement in the nurses’ knowledge and attitude toward pain management (Issa et al, 2019).…”