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Critical Care Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Pain Management: A Scoping Review
Ainisia Sindam1, Deena Clare Thomas2, Rajesh Kumar Muniandy3
1Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia; Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Summary
Critical care nurses have positive but inconsistent attitudes toward pain management, with knowledge gaps influenced by education and experience. Standardized training and support are needed to improve patient pain control.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Research
- Critical Care Medicine
- Pain Management
Background:
- Effective pain management is crucial in critical care units, yet inadequate assessment and inconsistent practices persist globally.
- Nurses' knowledge and attitudes significantly impact pain control and patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify research tools used to assess critical care nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward pain management.
- To determine the level of knowledge and influencing factors on critical care nurses' attitudes regarding pain management.
Main Methods:
- A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA-ScR framework.
- Studies published in English from January 2015 to December 2024 were systematically searched in major databases (PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, ProQuest).
Main Results:
- Fifteen studies revealed significant variability in nurses' knowledge and attitudes across settings.
- The Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain was a common assessment tool.
- Nurses generally exhibited more favorable attitudes than consistent knowledge levels, with education, experience, and support positively influencing outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Critical care nurses display generally positive but inconsistent attitudes toward pain management, alongside persistent knowledge deficits.
- Educational, clinical, and organizational factors influence these knowledge and attitude gaps.
- Standardized training, validated assessment tools, and robust institutional support are essential to enhance pain management competence.
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