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Royal College of Nursing
G35 Health care professonals’ knowledge and attitudes towards paediatric pain in one uk hospital
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  1. A Twycross1,
  2. R Parker1,
  3. A Williams2,
  4. R Bolland3,
  5. R Sunderland3
  1. 1Department of Children’s Nursing, London South Bank University, London, UK
  2. 2Centre for Outcomes and Experience Research in Children’s Health, Illness A, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
  3. 3St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK

Abstract

Aims This study aimed to ascertain and compare the knowledge and attitudes of health care professionals in one UK hospital relating to paediatric pain.

Methods A cross-sectional survey was administered to a convenience sample. The Paediatric Pain Knowledge and Attitudes Questionnaire, a previously validated tool1, was administered as an online survey using Survey Monkey®. Participants were asked to respond to the survey items on a six-point Likert scale. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Software Version 21.

Results A total of 96 clinicians responded to the questionnaire including doctors (n = 64), nurses (n = 27) and Operating Department Practitioners (n = 3). Overall participants scored more highly on attitudes (64.6%) than knowledge (63.7%). Participants scored the highest on sociology and psychology of pain (68.0%) (significantly higher than every other subscale) and lowest in physiology of pain (61.0%). No significant differences were found between doctors and nurses or between specialties. Participants who had either more than 50%, or 100% of their practice in paediatrics had better pain management knowledge and attitudes scores than those who had less than 50% or no paediatric practice.

Conclusions This study is the first to compare paediatric pain knowledge and attitudes across professional groups. Gaps in knowledge exist across professions and specialties. Nurses and medical staff have similar gaps in their knowledge and attitudes. There is a need to address these knowledge gaps and erroneous attitudes. Current methods of pain management education also need evaluating to ensure they are effective as possible.

Reference

  1. Twycross A, Williams A. Establishing the validity and reliability of a pediatric pain knowledge and attitudes questionnaire. Pain Manag Nurs. 2013;14(3):e47–e53

https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2015-308599.35

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