Nurses' attitudes toward pain treatment with opioids: a survey in a Belgian university hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate nurses' attitudes toward pain treatment with opioids in a Belgian university hospital.


METHODS
A cross-sectional, descriptive study design was used. The randomised sample included 350 nurses working in the University Hospital Leuven, Belgium. Non-response was 10.9%. Nurses' attitudes were explored by a structured questionnaire. The score on the opioid attitude scale (OAS) varied between 9 and 45.


RESULTS
Despite a neutral to positive score on the OAS (mean=69.4%), nurses had clearly negative attitudes towards the use of opioids during a diagnostic phase and the risk of possible addiction. These negative attitudes can hinder adequate pain treatment.
Broekmans
S
S
Multidisciplinary Pain Centre, University Hospital, Leuven, Belgium. susan.broekmans@med.kuleuven.ac.be
Vanderschueren
S
S
Morlion
B
B
Kumar
A
A
Evers
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001530:Belgium; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009341:Negativism; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011287:Prejudice; D012307:Risk Factors; D012647:Self-Assessment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid