Barriers to change: a pain management project

Although considerable effort has been directed toward improving the management of acute pain, ineffective pain management practices remain in many institutions across this country. While educational efforts have increased health care providers' knowledge regarding the management of pain, a concomitant change in practice has not occurred. This project was designed to examine barriers to the effective management of pain encountered in acute care settings. A repeated case study of attempts to change was conducted in six institutions located in the southeastern United States. Results identified seven major barriers to pain management: lack of knowledge, non-facilitative attitudes, inconsistent leadership, poor working relationships, cultural and religious biases, physicians' fears of legal repercussions and a lack of resources.