Community Hospital Physician and Nurse Attitudes About Pain Management

Abstract

An interdisciplinary committee was established and charged with examining pain management and developing interventions at a 148 bed community hospital. To examine strategies on managing pain from both healthcare provider and patient perspectives, the committee surveyed the attitudes of physicians and nurses toward pain management and patients' opinions about the pain management they received in the hospital. A separate survey instrument was developed for physicians, nursing staff and patients. Physicians and nursing staff from all departments were asked to complete the survey during departmental meetings in Autumn 2000, and all patients for whom pain medication were ordered during the month of May 2000 were asked to participate. A total of 45 physicians, 142 nurses and 169 patients responded. Results showed that the majority of physicians (88.9%, n = 40) and nurses (83.0%, n = 118) were satisfied with the pain management outcomes in their patients, andthat91.1% of physicians and 90.2% of nurses included their patients in the pain management decision-making process. Nearly all patients believed their pain was adequately managed, but the results indicated a need to improve the use of pain assessment scales by the hospital staff and a need to educate and involve all patients in their pain management options. Survey data also showed a desire for staff education on pain management.