An Assessment of Irish Paediatric Nurses' Level of Knowledge in Relation to Paediatric Pain and Pain Management

This presentation is part of : Children and Illness

Joy A. Conlon, MSc, RNT, BSc, RSCN, RGN, School of Nursing, Our lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland and H.W. Kelly, BA, MSSc, MRes, Cert, Teaching, Studies, RGN, RMN, RCNT, RNT, Ireland.

The study aimed to assess Irish paediatric nurses level of knowledge regarding paediatric pain management. A simple random sample (n=300) of Irish paediatric nurses was selected from two study setting. A descriptive quantitative survey design was chosen to meet the aims of the study. Data was collected using The Paediatric Nurses Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain (PNKAS) self-report questionnaire, which assessed various aspects of paediatric pain. Overall a 59% response rate was achieved.

The study findings highlighted a concerning lack of knowledge amongst Irish paediatric nurses regarding effective paediatric pain management practices. Also highlighted was an incessant belief in the many myths that surround paediatric pain and the use of opioid analgesia. Previous education in the area of pain was not found to influence the respondents’ level of knowledge. The use of a pain assessment tool was found to positively affect paediatric pain management practices; however pain assessment tools were not universally employed throughout the study settings. The study findings strongly call for aggressive measures to educate Irish paediatric nurses in the area of paediatric pain management. The findings also suggest the need for Irish paediatric nurses to adopt a proactive approach to paediatric pain management.

Conclusion: If Irish paediatric nurses are to act as role models in the area of paediatric pain management and pave the way for improvements in this area of practice, they need to ensure that they are fully equipped with the fundamental knowledge and skills to fulfill the requirements of this principal role.

Learning Objective #1: Appreciate the difficulties that paediatric nurses continue to experience in relation to paediatric pain management
Learning Objective #2: Recognise the extent of the most prevalent problems that Irish paediatric nurses are currently experiencing in relation to paediatric pain and pain management