Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Pain in Saudi Arabia
Thurayya, Eid, . 2014
Unrelieved pain is a worldwide health care problem that can lead to
unnecessary complications and increased health care expenditure.
The aim of this study was to examine nurses’ knowledge and attitudes
toward pain in Saudi Arabia. A descriptive design was employed using
the Nurses’ Knowledge and Attitudes Survey regarding pain. The study
took place in a tertiary teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia. All nurses
employed in the hospital were eligible to participate. A total of 775
questionnaires were distributed to nurses working in acute care,
intensive care, and nursing education and administration settings. In
all, 593 respondents completed the questionnaires, representing a
response rate of 76.5%. Data were analyzed using descriptive and
inferential statistics. Most participants were from overseas (97.5%),
speaking 23 different languages; 36.5% of nurses held a bachelors of
science degree in nursing or the equivalent. The mean score of
correctly answered items in was 16.9 (95% confidence interval, 16.6-
17.31) out of a total possible score of 40. Nurses demonstrated some
misconceived attitudes such as not giving the required dose of
morphine to a smiling patient despite the patient being in pain. It is of
concern that the findings identified problems of inadequate knowledge
and inappropriate attitudes regarding pain assessment and
management in Saudi Arabia. Considering these problems, the development
of pain programs and policies affecting national and international
nurses is highly imperative.
