Pain knowledge and attitude: a survey among nurses in 23 health institutions in Western Ethiopia: Ağrı bilgisi ve yaklaşımı: Batı Etiyopya’daki 23 sağlık enstitüsündeki hemşireler arasında bir anket

Tewodros Eyob Woldehaimanot; Yohannes Jiregna  Saketa; Abera Mulatu Zeleke; Hailay Abrha Gesesew; Tirsit Retta Woldeyohanes

doi:10.5455/GMJ-30-157196

Authors

Tewodros Eyob Woldehaimanot Department of Pharmacy, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
Yohannes Jiregna Saketa Department of Pharmacy, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
Abera Mulatu Zeleke Department of Pharmacy, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
Hailay Abrha Gesesew Department of Epidemiology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
Tirsit Retta Woldeyohanes Department of Dermato-Venerology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5455/GMJ-30-157196

Keywords:

Attitudes, knowledge, nurse, pain management

Abstract

Effective pain management requires a sound knowledge of pain and its treatment. Researches indicated that inadequate knowledge and inappropriate attitudes of nurses regarding pain management have a significant impact of treatment and patient care. The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge and attitude among health care professionals in Anfillo Woreda health centers and private small clinics in West Ethiopia. A cross-sectional survey was used to self-administer four Likert scales validated and adopted 22 pain related items by 89 nurses of three health centers and twenty small clinics. Descriptive data analyses were used. Itemtotal correlation and Cronbach’s alpha were computed. The overall mean correct answer for all the 22 items was 49.8%; meaning health care providers were able to correctly answer 49.8% of items on average. Besides, only 3.8% of them scored above the passing score of 70%. The widespread pain related misconceptions identified is of concern demanding continuing education for nurses and pain management quality improvement initiatives so as to alleviate the consequences of poor knowledge and inappropriate attitude towards pain management.

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