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RES247
Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Pain: A Survey Among Critical Care Nurses
By: G. Yehl, D. Trichel, J. McConnell, A. Wagner, & J. Ray; Georgetown University Hospital; Washington, DC
For further information, please contact: yehlg@gunet.georgetown.edu
Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the knowledge levels and attitudes regarding pain management among critical care nurses in our facility. Another goal was to investigate the greatest concerns about pain control and awareness of effective nonverbal pain tools and alternative therapies.
Background/Significance: Comprehensive pain management is essential in providing quality patient care in the intensive care unit (ICU). Evidence shows that patients experience considerable pain related to commonly performed nursing procedures, and this pain is often undertreated. Adequate pain management is a unique opportunity and responsibility of the nurse. Literature supports that a knowledge deficit among nurses exists in the proper assessment and control of pain.
Methods: This study utilized a nonexperimental quantitative survey in the form of an electronic self-administered 38 item questionnaire developed by Ferrell and McCaffery. The tool consisted of questions on pharmacology, pain assessment, and pain control. It was comprised of true/false, multiple choice questions, and case studies. A section was developed for demographic information and open-ended questions about pain assessment tools and alternative therapies. The target population consisted of 120 nurses from all ICUs, including surgical, medical, and neurosurgical specialties. Subjects who completed the survey during the study period of three weeks comprised the convenience sample (N=100).
Results: Data analysis showed the mean score for all participants was 67%. 16 questions about the pharmacology of analgesics had <70% correct answers. 80% of nurses were aware of alternative therapies for pain relief and identified massage, prayer/meditation, music and acupuncture as effective. Only 45% were aware of a nonverbal pain scale for pain assessment in the sedated, intubated, nonverbal patient. 15% listed the faces scale. The greatest concerns regarding pain management were inadequate pain control (40%) and oversedation or respiratory depression (14%). Only 2% mentioned fear of addiction as a consideration. 86% of participants were interested in learning more about pain management.
Conclusions: Results confirmed education is needed among critical care nurses on pain assessment and management. This training will help improve the nursing practice and patient care in the ICU. The effectiveness of alternative therapies and nonverbal pain tools requires further study.
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