Survey on the Knowledge of Pain and the Pain Intervention of Clinical Nurses: focus on Daegu city and Kyoungbuk province

Kwon, Youn Suk

Abstract

PURPOSE
A survey was done on knowledge of pain and pain interventions by clinical nurses in Deagu city and Kyoungbuk province. METHOD: The participants in this study were 209 nurses who worked in Daegu city, and 190 nurses who worked in Kyoungbuk province. The data were collected from August 5, to September 15, 2002. The data were analyzed with SPSS WIN 10.0 program using numbers, percentages, averages and standard deviation with t-test and ANOVA. RESULT: Out of a total of 30 points on general knowledge of pain, the clinical nurses had a high score of 28, and a low of 10. The average was 18.6 (SD=3.14). Of the participants, 57.9% reported not having had any pain education and 67.9% agreed that education is a necessity. Of pharmacological interventions, Tylenol had the highest score at 3.44 out of a possible 4 points. The most frequent route for giving medication was intramuscular injection (42.6%) and for 62.7%, there was a decision by the physician for routine medication or prn. On reactions after medication, moderate relief had the highest frequency (41.9%), and for side effects after the medication, feeling of nausea was most frequent (70.4%). Of the nonpharmacological approaches to pain relief, ice bag had the highest score with 2.95 out of a possible 4. Judgement to give medication was made by the nurse for 50.1% of the participants and 64.7% reported a little relief from pain. CONCLUSION: Based upon the results, continuing education and developing a better education programs (including pain mechanism, pain assessment, pharmacological interventions and nonpharmacological interventions) are needed for systematic pain management. Nurses need a high level of knowledge of pain, to be active in pharmacological interventions and nonpharmacological interventions.