Performance of evidence-based pain assessment and management guidelines among medical-surgical nurses

Abstract

This study aimed at the effectiveness to investigate the performance of evidence-based pain assessment and management guidelines. Methods: Participants were 140 nurses at the med-surgical units. Data were collected in early July, 2014 using Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) guideline (2007) revised and validated by Hong and Lee (2012) and analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA using SPSS/WIN18.0. Results: The score of performance of pain assessment guideline was higher than the score of pain management. Categories with high score were pain screening, parameter of pain assessment, documentation, assessment of opioids side-effects, and record of pain caused intervention. Categories with low score were comprehensive pain assessment, multidisciplinary communication, establishing a plan for pain management, consultation and education for patients and their families, and education for nurse. Non-pharmacological management was the lowest one. Conclusion: Assessing and managing pain is a complex phenomenon. It might be useful if institutions host training programs to ensure that nurse are better able to understand and implement pain assessment and management. Since non-pharmacological management is less likely to be used by nurses it may be helpful to include these methods in a training program.