Knowledge and attitudes of pediatric clinicians regarding pediatric pain management

Abstract

Background: The professional knowledge and personal attitudes of pediatric clinicians regarding pediatric pain are the most important factors impacting pediatric pain relief care. Few studies have investigated the knowledge and attitudes regarding pediatric pain management of clinicians in Taiwan. Purpose: Research purposes were to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of pediatric clinicians regarding pain management and to describe the barriers of applying pain management across pediatric and neonatal settings. Design and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive comparative design was used. Pediatric clinicians from two medical centers and three general hospitals in Taiwan were recruited to complete a questionnaire. Results: A total of 264 clinicians participated. On 33 questions measuring knowledge of pain management, the average correct response rate was 23.67. A significantly positive relationship was identified between clinicians' knowledge and prior training experience. Professional degree attainment significantly impacted clinicians' attitudes about pediatric pain management. Clinicians at pediatric wards showed more positive attitudes than did clinicians at either pediatric intensive care units or neonatal intensive care units. Five barriers to pediatric pain management were found. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that pediatric clinicians in Taiwan need further education regarding pediatric pain management. This study will also helpful in implementing multidisciplinary pediatric pain management programs to improve the quality of pediatric practice in pediatric care settings of hospitals. K E Y W O R D S knowledge and attitudes summary statement, pediatric nursing, pediatric pain management, pediatricians WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC? 1. Research has found that untreated pain or insufficient pain management in children can result in short-term and long-term undesirable consequences and lead to impaired family functioning and decreased quality of life. 2. Pediatric clinicians' knowledge and attitudes can affect their ability to provide adequate pediatric pain management.

Knowledge of Chinese Pediatric Professionals Regarding Pediatric Pain Management

“…Participating pediatricians displayed better knowledge of pain assessment than nurses. These results are likely consistent with previous studies in Taiwan [ 13 ]. Most participants’ responses indicated that they were unaware of the importance of pain assessment and unable to recognize pediatric patients’ pain, implying that they may improperly assess pain in ill children ( Table 2 , Q20).…”

“…A structured questionnaire assessed pediatric clinicians’ knowledge regarding pediatric pain management. The content of the questionnaire was adapted from a previous study [ 13 ] and modified to fit the reality of clinical practice in mainland China [ 5 , 11 ]. The questionnaire included 9 demographic questions, and 31 items evaluating knowledge of pediatric pain management.…”

“…A discrepancy in levels of knowledge or perceptions among pediatric professionals may contribute to the inadequate pain management among hospitalized children reported by many studies [ 4 , 9 ]. Moreover, since many healthcare professionals base their perceptions of pediatric pain on their knowledge of the subject, knowledge deficits in this area of practice may yield negative attitudes toward pain management and add to the complexity of pain management in hospitalized children [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Not only pediatricians but also other healthcare professionals, especially nurses, play significant roles in the appropriate implementation of pediatric pain management [ 14 , 15 ], but few studies have analyzed the knowledge level of interdisciplinary pediatric professionals in mainland China regarding this area of practice.…”

Existence and perceived application of pain management protocols in German neonatal intensive care units

“…Until now, different aspects have been suggested as being associated with the application of PM, for example, the knowledge about pain and misconceptions about the quality of comfort care and pediatric palliative care, 16 the profession, 17 the time of day, 18 and the presence of parents. 1 In previous research, training and sufficient knowledge about neonatal pain assessment were named as important factors when it came to pain assessment and management.…”

“…1 In previous research, training and sufficient knowledge about neonatal pain assessment were named as important factors when it came to pain assessment and management. 16,[19][20][21] For example, the study by Carlsen Misic et al 19 demonstrated that 34% of nurses in neonatal units felt insecure and perceived their knowledge as insufficient with regard to using a pain scale correctly. Further, Capolingua and Gill 22 found out that nurses with postgraduate clinical training reported more positive attitudes toward premature infant pain assessment and management.…”