Attitudes, beliefs and self-reported competence about postoperative pain among physicians and nurses working on surgical wards.

AIMS: To investigate attitudes, beliefs and self-reported competence with regard to pain management in nurses and physicians on surgical wards. Interprofessional differences between physicians and nurses were also examined. METHODS: A total of 795 physicians and nurses from different surgical departments in Norway were invited to complete a questionnaire measuring attitudes, beliefs and self-reported competence about postoperative pain. FINDINGS: In total, 128 physicians and 407 nurses completed the questionnaire (response rate 68%). Of these, 77% of physicians and 57% of nurses reported more than 4 years' work experience with postoperative pain. Most of the physicians (95%) and nurses (86%) reported that patients 'often' or 'very often' achieved satisfactory pain relief. Overall, 69% of the sample evaluated themselves as being highly competent or competent in treating nociceptive pain, while only 16% reported they were highly competent or competent in treating neuropathic pain. There were no statistically significant differences between the professions regarding their self-reported competence in pain management, and nurses and physicians only differed on three out of 18 conditions regarding their appraisal of conditions related to postoperative pain management after controlling for years of experience. Only 20% of respondents were satisfied with the annual updates for staff about pain relief for patients with postoperative pain. CONCLUSIONS: Even though the majority of physicians and nurses described themselves as competent in management of nociceptive pain, and thought that patients often or very often achieved satisfactory pain relief, the respondents reported dissatisfaction with the annual updates in pain management and poor competence in treatment of neuropathic pain.

[Postoperative pain in patients admitted to Norwegian hospitals]. / Postoperativ smerte hos pasienter innlagt i norske sykehus.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain management is important for patients' well-being and mobility. It also reduces the length of hospital stays and prevents complications. Based on our own clinical experience, data on pain in cancer patients from Norway and on postoperative pain from other countries, we expected that a substantial proportion of patients staying in Norwegian hospitals would report postoperative pain of high intensity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 215 in-patients from 14 Norwegian hospitals participated in a study of pain during the first 24 hours after operations. The study was based on medical records and data reported by the patients themselves. RESULTS: On an 11-point numerical scale, the mean intensity of pain was 3.0 (SD 2.1) during the first 24 hours. 8 % of patients reported that the intensity of even the weakest pain during rest had been ≥ 4, 38 % reported a mean intensity ≥ 4 and 11 % reported a mean ≥ 6. The medical records contained information about the intensity of postoperative pain for only 22 % of the patients. Reports from patients indicated that 52 % had been asked to report the intensity of pain on a scale as part of the hospital routine, while 78 % and 74 % had been asked about the need for additional pain alleviation and whether the medication was effective. INTERPRETATION: Many patients reported pain of strong intensity during the first 24 hours after operations. There is a great potential for improved documentation and treatment of pain.