A Pilot Convenience Internet Survey Regarding Pain Management Among Medical Profession in Saudi Arabia: An...

Chronic pain is a common clinical problem that considerably affects patients' quality of life, functional status, and overall well-being. Effective pain management requires an integrated approach that includes both pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies. However, variations in physicians' knowledge of pain management may influence clinical decision-making and patient outcomes. In this study, the aim was to explore medical professionals' knowledge of pain management, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies, to provide preliminary insights and identify areas for future research and improvement.

This exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered online survey distributed to Individuals across the medical education continuum. The study aimed to assess the participants knowledge, attitude toward pain management. The questionnaire consisted of 25 true/false statements designed to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to pain management. We also explored whether knowledge scores varied according to demographic and professional characteristics.

Among the 51 participants, 76.5% were physicians and nearly half (49.0%) reported regularly treating patients with pain. Despite this, 78.4% reported no formal education in pain management. Overall, 70.6% demonstrated good knowledge, with a mean score of 17.55 ± 3.47. Participants showed strong knowledge in pain assessment (96.1%), multimodal analgesia (90.2%), and opioid titration (94.1%). Nevertheless, misconceptions were noted, including reliance on vital signs for pain assessment (51.0%) and inappropriate beliefs regarding adjuvant medications (up to 31.4%). No significant associations were found between knowledge levels and demographic or professional variables.

Although most participants exhibited adequate knowledge of chronic pain management, we identified gaps regarding pain assessment and adjuvant medications, as well as a deficiency in formal pain management education. These findings warrant further larger-scale studies to inform the development of structured, evidence-based education across multiple levels of medical training to improve chronic pain care and patient outcomes.