Critical Care Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Pain Management: A Scoping Review

Pain management is a vital component of nursing care in critical care units. Despite advances in clinical guidelines, inadequate assessment and inconsistent pain management remain global challenges. Nurses' knowledge and attitudes play a crucial role in ensuring effective pain control and improving patient outcomes.

This scoping review aims to identify common research tools, level and factor influencing knowledge and attitudes toward pain management among critical care unit's nurse.

The review followed the PRISMA-ScR framework and was registered with the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/dct9u). Studies published in English between January 2015 and December 2024 were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest.

Fifteen studies reported knowledge and attitude outcomes, which demonstrated substantial variability across different settings and populations. Findings indicate that various instruments, particularly the Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain, were used to assess ICU nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward pain management. Knowledge levels showed a mixed pattern, ranging from low to moderate and, in some settings, moderate to high, whereas attitudes were generally more favorable. Educational exposure, clinical experience, and organizational support were frequently associated with improved outcomes, while inconsistent guidelines and limited training contributed to ongoing gaps.

ICU nurses demonstrate generally positive yet inconsistent attitudes toward pain management, with persistent knowledge gaps influenced by educational, clinical, and organizational factors, highlighting the need for standardized training, validated assessment tools, and stronger institutional support.

These findings highlight the need for standardized education, validated assessment tools, and supportive institutional policies to enhance pain management competence among critical care nurses.