Pain-Related Knowledge and Barriers among Jordanian Nurses: A National Study

Waddah Mohammad D’Emeh,Batool Shahwan,Muhammad Waleed Darawad,Talal Haider Al-Badawi,Mohammed Ibrahim Yacoub

doi:10.4236/health.2016.86058

Waddah Mohammad D’Emeh, Batool Shahwan + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/health.2016.86058

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Journal: Health	Publication Date: Jan 1, 2016
Citations: 62	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Jordan

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore Jordanian nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding pain assessment, and barriers to intervention at different hospitals representing health care sectors in Jordan. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used in this study utilizing self-administered questionnaires to collect data from nurses working in public, University-affiliated, and private hospitals located on the north, mid, and south of Jordan using Nurses’ Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain, (n = 439). The mean of total correct answers on the 32 knowledge questions was 13.39 (SD = 4.31). Nurse-related barriers to effective pain management include patient history of alcohol abuse or drug addiction, and nursing staff reluctant to contact physician for analgesic order. Nurses working in surgical units, employed at private hospitals, holding a master degree, or who attended educational course or program scored significantly higher than other nurses. The results demonstrated knowledge deficit and attitude and that nurses underestimated and undertreated patients’ pain. Serious efforts should be taken in nursing schools and hospitals to prepare nurses and equip them with comprehensive knowledge tools to assess and manage pain appropriately.

Highlights

Pain is a complex phenomenon that is a lived experience by most of the hospitalized patients [1] [2], causingHow to cite this paper: D’emeh, W.M., Yacoub, M.I., Darawad, M.W., Al-Badawi, T.H. and Shahwan, B. (2016) Pain-Related Knowledge and Barriers among Jordanian Nurses: A National Study
The surveyed nurses displayed the least amount of knowledge about the assessment of pain, but showed a more comprehensive understanding of the need to vary pain management practices to suit the needs of individual patient
Result revealed that nurses have deficits in their knowledge of pain management principles, these deficits appear to be larger than those found in previous studies [24] [28] [35] and less than those found in other studies [27] [36]

Summary

Introduction

Pain is a complex phenomenon that is a lived experience by most of the hospitalized patients [1] [2], causingHow to cite this paper: D’emeh, W.M., Yacoub, M.I., Darawad, M.W., Al-Badawi, T.H. and Shahwan, B. (2016) Pain-Related Knowledge and Barriers among Jordanian Nurses: A National Study. Pain is a complex phenomenon that is a lived experience by most of the hospitalized patients [1] [2], causing. How to cite this paper: D’emeh, W.M., Yacoub, M.I., Darawad, M.W., Al-Badawi, T.H. and Shahwan, B. (2016) Pain-Related Knowledge and Barriers among Jordanian Nurses: A National Study. Ineffective pain management can affect patients’ physiologic, psychological, and financial status [5] [6] [7]. In 2011, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) declared that pain was in undertreated condition in the United States [8]. Healthcare providers started to have interest in pain management, and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) included pain in the definition of vital signs [9]

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