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Nurses' knowledge of pain in the elderly
1Faculty of Nursing, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
|April 20, 2001
Summary
Nurses demonstrate a significant knowledge gap in pain management for elderly patients. Enhanced education is crucial for both undergraduate programs and in-service training to improve care for this growing demographic.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Nursing
- Pain Management
- Healthcare Education
Background:
- The majority of hospital patients are now over 65 years old.
- Effective pain management is essential for quality elderly care.
- Existing nursing education may not adequately address geriatric pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess registered nurses' knowledge of pain and its management in elderly individuals.
- To identify any disparities in knowledge between hospital and nursing home settings.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire survey was administered to registered nurses.
- Participants were recruited from general hospitals and nursing homes.
- The survey focused on knowledge of pain management principles for the elderly.
Main Results:
- A significant deficit in nurses' knowledge of geriatric pain management was identified.
- Statistically significant differences in knowledge levels were observed between hospital and nursing home nurses.
- Elderly patients require specialized pain management knowledge from all nurses.
Conclusions:
- There is a clear need for improved and expanded education on elderly pain management for nurses.
- Undergraduate nursing curricula require updates to include comprehensive geriatric pain management.
- Continuing in-service education programs are essential to address current knowledge gaps.