Nurses knowledge and attitude toward pain management: Cross sectional, multi-center study from Palestine

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Pain Management
• Healthcare Quality

Background:

• Pain is a common, debilitating hospital experience affecting patient well-being.
• Effective pain management is crucial, yet challenges in assessment and treatment persist.
• Nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and system barriers significantly influence pain management effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and barriers concerning pain management practices.
• The study focused on hospitals in the northern West Bank, Palestine.
• Investigating these factors is key to improving patient care.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive cross-sectional study surveyed 199 registered nurses.
• Data was collected using a modified Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KASRP) tool.
• Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, t-tests, and ANOVA.

Main Results:

• Nurses achieved a low mean score of 44.75% for knowledge and attitude towards pain management.
• Significant knowledge gaps were identified, particularly regarding opioid addiction and benzodiazepine efficacy.
• Barriers included concerns about addiction, lack of IV access, and time constraints.

Conclusions:

• Nurses in northern West Bank exhibit significant deficits in pain management knowledge and face system-related barriers.
• Urgent need for educational initiatives, updated policies, and evidence-based clinical guidelines.
• Enhancing nurse competency is essential to reduce patient suffering and improve clinical outcomes.