Impact of an Educational Program about Cancer Pain Management on Nurses' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice at Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Background: cancer pain has emerged as a leading stressor for patients with cancer in the intensive care unit (ICU).Unrelieved pain gives rise to negative physiologic and psychological events that can be detrimental to critically ill patients‟ health outcomes Aim of the study: evaluate the impact of an educational program about cancer pain management on nurses' knowledge, attitudes and practice at intensive care unit. Subject and methods: Quasi-experimental design was utilized in this study. A convenience sample of 55 ICU nurses 30 were nursing diploma, 17 were technical degree and 8 bachelor degree. The data were collected using the tool I Pre/post-test nurses' knowledge and attitudes assessment questionnaire sheet for assessment of nurses' knowledge and attitudes, tool II pre/post observation checklist to assess nurse practices. Results: The result reveals that the majority of nurses had unsatisfactory of knowledge and negative attitudes regarding cancer pain management pre-education program. The mean scores were improved significantly (P=0.001) post education program, also, the majority of nurse's practice were an inadequate pre-education program; they improved significantly (P=0.001) post education program. Conclusion: The study concluded that the education program leads to significant improvement in nurse's knowledge attitudes and practices about cancer pain management.