Impact of an Educational Program on the Knowledge and Attitude About Pain Assessment and Management Among Critical Care Nurses.

BACKGROUND: Pain assessment and management are imperative parts of nursing care and considered as one of the most fundamental patient rights. The role of pain management education is well established in improving knowledge and attitude among nurses. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the impact of pain management educational program on the knowledge and attitudes of intensive care unit (ICU) staff nurses toward pain assessment and management. The baseline score of pain assessment and management knowledge and attitude of ICU nurses has been identified in a previous research, and the result showed immense lack of knowledge and poor attitudes among ICU nurses toward pain assessment and management when dealing with ICU patients. METHODS: This is a pretest-posttest experimental study, utilizing a self-reporting questionnaire tool to obtain information about nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward pain assessment and management after implementation of new pain management educational program for critical care nurses. Data were collected using the Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain tool that measures knowledge with 22 question items and measures attitude with 17 question items. Paper-based questionnaire was distributed to nurses for data collection. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The results showed significant improvement in knowledge and attitudes about pain assessment and management among ICU nurses; it was evident after delivering pain management education program. At baseline, 204 ICU nurses gave consent and completed the questionnaire and thus included in baseline measurement before implementing the intervention. In the postintervention measurement, the questionnaire was distributed to the same participants included in the baseline phase from which 181 participants completed the questionnaire for the second time, with a response rate of 89%; the deficits and preconception in pain assessment and management can be improved through implementing pain management educational programs.

Delirium Incidence and Risk Factors in Adult Critically Ill Patients in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Delirium in intensive care units (ICUs) is associated with long ICU stay, long hospital stay and increased costs of treatment. Unfortunately, delirium in ICU is significantly underestimated and overlooked by healthcare providers. AIMS: The aim of this tudy is to determine the incidence and associated risk factors of delirium among critically ill patients in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This is a prospective study. Patients were assessed for delirium using the confusion assessment method for the ICU. Delirium was the independent variable in this study. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients (17.3%) showed positive delirium at least once compared to 283 patients (82.7%) who did not show positive delirium. Certain factors for delirium found to be significantly correlated with delirium (P < 0.005); including receiving sedation, mode of sedation, receiving mechanical ventilation, resistance to mechanical ventilator, and baseline Glasgow Coma Scale. CONCLUSION: Delirium occurred in >17% of our ICU patients. More efforts should be directed to consider ICU delirium and to minimize its triggering factors.