Evaluating Saudi Nursing Students’ Knowledge and Attitudes toward Cancer Pain Management: Implications for Nursing Education

Abstract

Ineffective pain management has been recognized as a major problem faced by many patients with cancer. There is a lack of emphasis on cancer pain management in the undergraduate nursing curriculum which is one part of this problem. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out with a convenience sample of 135 nursing students at two universities in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to evaluate students’ current knowledge and attitudes toward cancer pain management. Data were collected using Pain Management Principles Assessment Test and Nurses’ Pain Management Attitudes Survey. The data were analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 22, and P < 0.05 was interpreted as significant. Descriptive and inferential statistics and Pearson correlations were performed. Nursing students have insufficient knowledge (11.4 ± 2.92) and negative attitudes (68.8 ± 5.75) toward cancer pain management. None of the nursing students achieved complete, correct responses (31 or 100%) in the knowledge test. Students had poor knowledge regarding areas of pain physiology and assessment, pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic pain management such as cutaneous stimulation. A weak positive significant relationship between students’ knowledge and attitudes was also found (r = 0.225, P = 0.009). Continued work is required to develop specific strategies to effectively teach nursing students and enhance their knowledge and attitudes toward cancer pain management.

Addressing 10 Myths About Pediatric Palliative Care

“…21 Studies in different countries have also identified significant gaps in nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward pediatric pain. 22–28…”

“…21 Studies in different countries have also identified significant gaps in nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward pediatric pain. [22][23][24][25][26][27][28] Opioids such as morphine can be safely administered to infants and children when following weight-based dosing guidelines. It has also been established that a multimodal approach to pain management where a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions is employed is best practice.…”

Nurses’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Barriers Toward Pain Assessment and Management in Assir Region, Saudi Arabia

“…The study findings show that only 41.5% were participating in training courses on PAM. Several studies have found that lack of continuing professional training results in a lack of knowledge and negative attitudes regarding PAM and ultimately poor practice (Bergeron et al, 2015; Latchman, 2014; Wazqar, 2019). A significant percentage of the participating nurses (93.6%) have an interest to learn more about PAM.…”

“…Ung and colleagues (2016) have documented that the estimated incidence of moderate to severe pain is 20%–80% globally. Untreated pain can adversely affect the quality of life of patients and their families, one's daily activities and outlook in life, and increase the length of hospital stays (Simon, 2012; Wazqar, 2019). Despite the availability of resources, strategies, training programs, and specialized pain teams for pain management, the prevalence of pain is still markedly high in health settings (Lui et al, 2008; Vagnoli et al, 2019).…”