Knowledge on Nonpharmacological Methods of Pain Management among Nurses at Bindura Hospital, Zimbabwe.

Reginald Dennis Gwisai,Estele Mwanza,Chiratidzo Munemo

doi:10.1155/2019/2703579

Reginald Dennis Gwisai, Estele Mwanza + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/2703579

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Abstract

This study is a quantitative descriptive study, which was conducted with an aim to assess the knowledge on nonpharmacological methods of pain management among registered general nurses at Bindura Hospital. This is because most nurses focus more on pharmacological pain management than nonpharmacological therapies which are given less attention or accord. This study used a descriptive study design, which is a nonexperimental research design so as to obtain information about registered nurses knowledge on nonpharmacological pain management. A convenience sampling technique was utilised to select a sample of seventy-five participants. Data were collected by the researcher who distributed self-administered questionnaires to available registered nurses after obtaining informed consent at Bindura Provincial Hospital. The mean knowledge score for this study was 48.6% and was below a pass mark of 50% and far below 80% which is the minimal acceptable level of knowledge on the Nurses Knowledge and Attitude Scale. A minimum knowledge score of 16% was obtained from participants showing lack of knowledge on indications of nonpharmacological pain therapies and a maximum knowledge score of 97.3% was shown on knowledge on nonpharmacological techniques. The following conclusion was drawn from the research findings; the study showed that the nurses have poor knowledge regarding nonpharmacological pain management as indicated by mean knowledge score of 48.6%. The researcher therefore recommends that the nursing practice should take an initiative in ensuring that all practicing nurses practice the highest possible pain management nursing care and that opportunities should be made available for nurses to be educated in effective pain management utilising nonpharmacological therapies.

Highlights

The concept of pain has been defined and explained from many dimensions
Despite the growing awareness on pain management, patients still suffer from unnecessary pain in many hospitals with the resultant negative effects on physical, emotional, and spiritual health and quality of life [9,10,11]
Pain management is an important aspect of patient care and nurses play a significant role in the acute care setting in providing pain assessment and treatment [9, 12]

Summary

Introduction

The concept of pain has been defined and explained from many dimensions. The International Association for the Study of Pain [1] defines pain as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Some studies state that pain is known as the fifth vital sign, and health professionals should monitor and manage it when caring for patients [2, 3]. As observed by previous studies [4], pain has physical harmful effects that may lead to physiologically unsafe conditions. Of particular importance to nursing care, unrelieved pain reduces patient mobility, resulting in complications such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, and pneumonia [4, 7]. Despite the growing awareness on pain management, patients still suffer from unnecessary pain in many hospitals with the resultant negative effects on physical, emotional, and spiritual health and quality of life [9,10,11]. The prevailing persistent challenge in the use of nonpharmacological pain techniques has been expressed in

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Conclusion