Health care workers and ICU pain perceptions.

Area of Science:

• Medical Sociology
• Healthcare Management
• Pain Management Research

Background:

• Patient pain perception in intensive care units (ICUs) is well-documented.
• Limited understanding exists regarding how healthcare worker (HCW) characteristics influence pain perception and treatment.
• Investigating HCW factors is crucial for optimizing pain management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the impact of HCW personal characteristics on their perception and intended treatment of patient pain in the ICU.
• To identify specific demographic and professional factors influencing pain perception among critical care staff.

Main Methods:

• A 28-item questionnaire was administered to 122 medical staff in critical care settings over 12 months.
• Data collected included respondent characteristics (age, gender, race, ethnicity, training level) and Likert scale responses.
• Responses were scored on subscales assessing perceptions of hemodynamic instability, addiction/tolerance, pain expression, legal issues, and education.

Main Results:

• Age and race were significant predictors of perceptions related to addiction (P<0.05).
• Race significantly influenced pain expression scores (P=0.053).
• Active medical training status and critical care specialty were significant predictors of addiction perceptions (P<0.05).

Conclusions:

• HCW race, age, education level, and medical subspecialty significantly affect pain management perceptions.
• These personal and professional factors influence how HCWs perceive and intend to treat patient pain.
• Findings highlight the need to consider HCW characteristics in pain management protocols.