Knowledge and attitudes of Jordanian nursing students toward children’s pain assessment and management: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Successful pain assessment and management require nurses with sufficient knowledge and appropriate attitudes. A cross-sectional study was conducted to test the nursing students’ knowledge and attitudes toward children’s pain management across three private universities in Jordan. A convenient sample of 101 nursing students completed the Paediatric Nurses’ Knowledge and Attitudes Survey (PNKAS). The total mean score on the PNKAS scale was 18.36% (SD = +6.30), with a minimum score of 8 and a maximum score of 40. The results showed that Jordanian nursing students have poor knowledge and attitudes towards paediatric pain assessment and management. Jordanian nursing students need more educational materials throughout their study plans and curriculums in regards to paediatric pain assessment and management.