Enhancing nurses' reliance on patients' perceptions of pain during pain assessment: a comparison of two educational...

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to determine if an educational program on pain assessment that includes both knowledge and attitude domains is more effective than a didactic educational offering in encouraging nurses' reliance on patients' self-reports of pain during assessment for pain. Twenty-two registered nurses and seven licensed practical nurses at the Tucson Veterans Affairs Medical Center participated. Group A received a lecture and watched a videotape. Group B received a lecture, watched a videotape, and participated in a group discussion on attitudes. Participants in both groups completed the Pain Management Questionnaire developed by Ferrell, Eberts, McCaffery & Grant (1991). No significant differences were found between groups with respect to results on the pain management questionnaire.