Level of cancer pain knowledge among baccalaureate student nurses

Inadequate nursing education is a major impediment to effective pain relief for cancer patients throughout the world. This study was conducted to identify the level of cancer pain knowledge among baccalaureate student nurses and to determine whether specific activities affect this level of knowledge. Two questionnaires were administered to 82 baccalaureate student nurses in the final course of their program. Although the students displayed a realistic perspective about the severity and prevalence of cancer pain and psychological dependence, specific knowledge deficits and negative attitudes suggest the possibility of inadequate pain management. Specifically, the students believed that (a) maximal analgesic therapy should be delayed until the patient's prognosis was less than 12 months; (b) the proportion of patients whose pain can be controlled by appropriate therapy is less than is possible; (c) increasing pain is related to tolerance rather than to progression of the disease; (d) the preferred route of administration is intravenous rather than oral; and (e) the degree of respiratory depression, rather than constipation, does not decrease with repeated administration. Significant positive correlations (P < or = 0.05) were found between age and cancer pain knowledge and between attendance at seminars/workshops and time spent reading professional journal articles. Of the 30% of the participants who perceived a particular person to be a source for obtaining information about cancer pain management, 52% specified a practicing registered nurse. Seminars and workshops were chosen by 59% of the students as the most effective way for nurses to increase their knowledge.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)