Alignment of pain reassessment practices and National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines.
OBJECTIVE
To improve nursing pain reassessment practices using a research utilization model and advanced practice nurses (APNs).


METHODS
A pre- and postintervention one-group design.


METHODS
A cancer hospital located in the western United States.


METHODS
42 oncology RNs from the inpatient staff of medical or surgical oncology units working at least 24 hours per week.


METHODS
National Comprehensive Cancer Network clinical practice guidelines were adopted. Interventions included one-on-one feedback regarding reassessment practices and nursing pain rounds. Instruments used were Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain (NKASRP), Pain Reassessment Data Tool, and Pain Competency Evaluation (PCE).


METHODS
Independent variables were pain rounds and one-on-one feedback. Dependent variables were PCE scores, percentage of pain reassessment documentation, and NKASRP test scores.


RESULTS
Changing staff pain practices requires more than education. Barriers may be overcome through careful planning, using a systematic change process such as a research utilization approach. NKASRP and PCE scores and a percentage of reassessment documentation reached statistically significant increases postintervention.


CONCLUSIONS
Adapting research recommendations allowed staff to create unit-specific solutions, evaluate practice changes, establish research partnerships, and use research in bedside care. Staff increased their proficiency in pain reassessment practices after the intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
Research utilization models bring about desired practice changes under APN leadership. Aligning pain reassessment practices with clinical pain guideline recommendations promotes improved pain management through better reassessment documentation.
Idell
Cynthia Smith
CS
City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA. cidell@coh.org
Grant
Marcia
M
Kirk
Christina
C
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002140:California; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic