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Document Type
Thesis - University Access Only
Award Date
1996
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department / School
Graduate Nursing
First Advisor
Sharon Hofland
Keywords
pain treatment, South Dakota nurse attitudes, analgesia
Abstract
The purpose of this survey was to describe nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward principles of pain management. The framework was based on a modification of Becker's Health Belief Model. A 25-item questionnaire was mailed to nurses selected via a systematic random sampling of every fourth registered nurse in South Dakota. The descriptive analysis is based on the 624 nurses who returned the completed tool. The findings indicated that nurses have a knowledge deficit in pharmacokinetics (e.g., opioid ceiling effect, morphine's effect on respiratory depression, equianalgesic dosing, meperidine's toxic metabolite, preferred route of administration for opioids, treatment of choice for prolonged cancer pain, and duration of action of certain opioids). Approximately one-half of the nurses indicated that patients did not receive adequate treatment of cancer pain where they worked. The barrier that interfered the greatest extent to optimal pain management for the diploma, associate, and baccalaureate nurses was the patient's reluctance to report pain. The barrier that interfered the greatest extent for the master's degree nurses was inadequate physician knowledge of pain management. The findings suggest that the nurses' level of knowledge and their attitudes indicate that nurses have not acquired or have not been exposed to adequate pain management information. Pain management education courses should be offered periodically. Additionally, nursing curriculum about pain management needs to be improved and the faculty, themselves, must acquire current pain management information so that student nurses are prepared to deliver quality care.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Pain -- Treatment
Nurses -- South Dakota -- Attitudes
Analgesia
Format
application/pdf
Number of Pages
131
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Rights
Copyright © 1996 Judy Sibilrud. All rights reserved
Recommended Citation
Sibilrud, Judy J., "A Descriptive Study of Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Principles of Pain Management" (1996). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 894.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/894