Post-operative pain assessment knowledge and practice among nurses working at Jimma University Medical Center, South West Ethiopia

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess post-operative pain assessment knowledge and practices among nurses. Methods: Institution based a cross-sectional study was conducted among 242 randomly selected nurses. Data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression were done. A p value of < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. Results: The largest proportion (61.3 %) of the respondents was between 20 and 30 years of age group. The study revealed that 60.5% of the respondents had good practice on pain assessment. Knowledge level, training and workload had significant association with pain assessment practice. Conclusion: In general, the level of knowledge and practice on pain assessment is not adequate in this setting. This is mainly due to lack of in-service training on pain assessment, lack of familiarity with pain assessment tools and the presence of workload. In the hospital setting, much of the responsibility for the patients’ comfort rests in the hands of nurses and they play pivotal role in post-operative pain assessment and management too. Thus, the Hospital should work to improve these gaps by strengthening practical based in-service training and decrease nurses work load.

Keywords

• Nurses
• Pain assessment
• Post-operative
• Knowledge
• Practice