title: Predictors of nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward postoperative pain in Greece.
abstract: Undertreatment of postoperative pain can aggravate patient outcomes and is associated with attending nurses' knowledge deficits or negative attitudes toward pain. The aim of this study was to investigate knowledge and attitudes toward postoperative pain of surgical department nurses and to identify predictors of their knowledge and attitudes. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional survey that took place in the departments of general surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery, ear-nose-throat surgery, and obstetrics/gynecology at five Greek hospitals. Participants were a convenience sample of registered and assistant nurses. Nurses were asked to complete a three-section questionnaire, which included demographics, a Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain (KASRP) tool modified for postoperative pain, and seven questions capturing personal characteristics, working conditions, and feelings about work. One hundred eighty-two questionnaires were completed. Average scores were 45.35% for modified KASRP tool; 28.57% for pain assessment; 55.44% for general pain management; and 47.13% for use of analgesics. Four of the five most commonly missed items referred to use of analgesics. More previous personal experience of postoperative pain (p = .002) and being a registered nurse (p = .015) predicted higher modified KASRP tool score. Participation in continuing education programs and department of employment were also associated with differences in the modified tool score. The knowledge deficits and negative attitudes of the nurses toward postoperative pain highlight the role of pregraduate and continuing education, appropriately specialized for each surgical department, in the development of empathy toward patients in pain and of clinical competency regarding pain assessment and administration of analgesics.
authors: Nursing Department, Technological Educational Institute of Western Greece, Patras, Greece. Electronic address: kiekkpan@otenet.gr.
authors: Panagiotis
authors: P
authors: Kiekkas
authors: General Korinthos Hospital, Korinthos, Greece.
authors: Panagiota
authors: P
authors: Gardeli
authors: Nursing Department, Technological Educational Institute of Western Greece, Patras, Greece.
authors: Nick
authors: N
authors: Bakalis
authors: Nursing Department, Technological Educational Institute of Western Greece, Patras, Greece.
authors: Nikolaos
authors: N
authors: Stefanopoulos
authors: Nursing Department, Technological Educational Institute of Western Greece, Patras, Greece.
authors: Katerina
authors: K
authors: Adamopoulou
authors: Nursing Department, Technological Educational Institute of Western Greece, Patras, Greece.
authors: Christos
authors: C
authors: Avdulla
authors: Nursing Department, Technological Educational Institute of Western Greece, Patras, Greece.
authors: Georgia
authors: G
authors: Tzourala
authors: Nursing Department, National and kapodistrian Athens University, Athens, Greece.
authors: Evangelos
authors: E
authors: Konstantinou
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000451:nursing*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000451:nursing*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires