title: Educational gaps among healthcare providers: an institution needs assessment to improve pain management for postsurgical patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nurses should be educated in pain management because they are more likely than other healthcare professionals to educate patients about their pain. The authors sought to identify the knowledge gaps in postoperative pain management among postsurgical nursing staff and the existence of institutional policies and educational programs to support them in delivering optimal pain management services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred seventy-seven registered nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse managers, physician assistants, and other health professionals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nurses participated in an online, anonymous survey that consisted of 43 questions in two broad categories: (1) knowledge and attitudes about pain management and (2) institutional pain management and assessment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Knowledge base of surgical nursing staff regarding postoperative pain management.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall mean knowledge score was 44.84 percent, with the highest percent of correct answers in the cancer pain category (54.03 percent). Recognition of signs and symptoms of pain had the lowest correct response rate (40.91 percent). Forty-nine percent of respondents reported that pain management protocols tailored to the specific population treated were available, 42 percent reported that patient pain education was always performed, 29 percent reported that they received regular training about pain management, and 17 percent had access to national pain management guidelines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The survey results demonstrate general gaps in pain management knowledge among nurses, particularly in recognizing signs and symptoms of pain. This work may guide the development of programs that improve postoperative pain management by increasing the frequency of nurses' pain education and improving the availability of pain-related policies and protocols.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Marlís
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González-Fernández
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Armstrong Institute for Safety and Quality, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Hanan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aboumatar
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Deena
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Amit M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Purvin
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanna
mesh_terms: D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009726:Nurses; D059408:Pain Management; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013527:Perioperative Nursing / Q000193:education*