title: Nurses' knowledge of pain and its management in older people.
abstract: Aim To identify nurses' knowledge of pain and its management in older people in acute hospitals. Method A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional design was used to survey a convenience sample of nurses. Data were collected using the Pain in the Elderly Questionnaire. Results The overall mean total score on the questionnaire was 65%, with scores ranging from 7-100%. While there is no recommended score, results indicate lack of nurse knowledge. The four questions with the lowest percentage of correct scores were related to pharmacology. Less than 25% of nurses had recent pain management education. Conclusion These findings indicate a knowledge deficit among nurses regarding pain and its management in older people, particularly in relation to opioid management. To improve pain management, nurses caring for older people would benefit from participation in an education programme with clinical application, such as expert-led, real-life or simulation demonstrations rather than lecture/discussion format only.
authors: Mission Hospital, Asheville, North Carolina, US.
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Furjanic
authors: School of Nursing and Midwifery, National University of Ireland, Galway.
authors: Adeline
authors: A
authors: Cooney
authors: School of Nursing and Midwifery, National University of Ireland, Galway.
authors: Bernard
authors: B
authors: McCarthy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: nurses’ knowledge; older people; opioids; pain; pain management; research