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Learning Objective 1: This study provides an overview of the professional preparation and attitudes of medical staff with regard to pain.
Learning Objective 2: It will be help in conducting educational programs aimed at improving pain treatment towards medical staff.
Methods: The sample consisted of 279 nurses and 157 physicians employed in emergency departments of thirteen teaching and research hospitals located in Istanbul, Turkey. In total 436 medical staff completed a 20 item questionnaire evaluating knowledge and beliefs about pain. Questionnaire is designed to based on literature findings and our experiences. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, t test, x2 test, and Kruskal-Wallis analysis. A p value lower than 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: The average age of participants was 29±5 (median 29), 55% were female. The overall percentage of correct answers was 49% (9.12/20). Physicians scored 51,8% and nurses 47,2% (p<0,05). The percentage of correct answers varied widely among the different items (from 9,2% to 95%). The question that had the lowest percentage of correct answers (9,2%) was No.1 (“Pain relief should be the first priority in the management of pain in the emergency department;” correct answer; “I agree”).
Conclusion: From these results, we conclude that there are still significant knowledge deficits and erroneous beliefs that may hamper treatment of the patient in pain. These results will help in conducting educational programs aimed at improving pain treatment in the emergency departments of the hospitals.