Determinants of nurses' intention to administer opioids for pain relief

Abstract

A statewide cross-sectional survey was conducted in Australia to identify the determinants of registered nurses' intention to administer opioids to patients with pain. Attitudes, subjective norms and perceived control, the key determinants of the Theory of Planned Behavior, were found to independently predict nurses' intention to administer opioids to these patients. Perceived control was the strongest predictor. Nurses reported positive overall attitudes towards opioids and their use in pain management. However, many negative attitudes were identified; for example, administering the least amount of opioid and encouraging patients to have non-opioids rather than opioids for pain relief. The findings related to specific attitudes and normative pressures provide insight into registered nurses' management of pain for hospitalized patients and the direction for educational interventions to improve registered nurses' administration of opioids for pain management.

Risks associated with the use of morphine for analgesia: attitudes and perceptions amongst nursing students in French-speaking Switzerland

“…1,27 Results from the present study are in line with previous reports on morphinophobia among health professionals by Broekmans et al 28 and Edwards et al 22 Several studies demonstrate that a good knowledge of pain mechanisms and the certitude of pharmacological efficacy favorably influence attitudes toward the use of morphine. 22,28,29 However, knowledge alone is rather insufficient to guarantee its application, nor to induce a knowledge-based behavior. Attitudes related to behavior develop over a long time period and are linked to a social context.…”

“…21 This is also true when it comes to use and administration of opioids to patients. 22 The theory of reasoned 23 action serves as theoretical framework in this study. According to the Ajzen and Fishbein theory of reasoned action, 23,24 the adoption of a behavior by an individual is the immediate result of the behavioral intention.…”

Does Clinical Experience Help Oncology Nursing Staff to Deal with Patient Pain Better than Nurses from other Displines? Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Amongst Nurses in a Tertiary Care in Malaysia

“…Surprisingly, Wells (2001) found that improving knowledge regarding opioids via training in pain management was not effective in improving attitudes towards use of opioids. Many nurses were still uncomfortable administering opioids for pain relief, including for breakthrough pain (Edwards et al, 2001). On the other hand, Edwards (2001) found that a supportive environment promoted better attitudes towards administering breakthrough opioids.…”

“…Many nurses were still uncomfortable administering opioids for pain relief, including for breakthrough pain (Edwards et al, 2001). On the other hand, Edwards (2001) found that a supportive environment promoted better attitudes towards administering breakthrough opioids.…”

Factors influencing orthopedic nurses’ pain management: A focused ethnography

“…These factors (time management, shift worked, impact of members of the multidisciplinary team, concerns over opioid analgesics, and communication) are consistent with the findings of other authors who have suggested that the culture of the care environment significantly influences pain management. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] In the time since Willson's 2000 study, 13 acute pain management in orthopedic surgery has undergone a revolution. In particular, the emergence of peripheral nerve blocks for postoperative analgesia has resulted in improved pain scores, reduced opioid requirements, and improved mobility in TKA.…”