C J Hollen1, C W Hollen, K Stolte. 1. College of Nursing, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, USA. chollen@aol.com
Abstract
PURPOSE/ OBJECTIVES: To identify knowledge strengths and weaknesses and misperceptions about cancer pain management between two groups of registered nurses in different settings. DESIGN: Descriptive, comparative survey. SETTING: 11 community-based hospices and 7 inpatient hospital oncology units within an urban county. SAMPLE: A convenience sample of 30 hospice and 34 hospital oncology unit nurses. Sample criteria included registered nurses who had worked for at least the preceding six months exclusively in either a hospice or hospital oncology unit. METHODS: The North Carolina Cancer Pain Initiative survey and a demographic survey were distributed to the work mailboxes of nurses in the participating facilities who met the inclusion criteria. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Hospice and hospital oncology unit nurses' knowledge and attitudes about basic pharmacologic cancer pain management. FINDINGS: Hospice nurses scored significantly higher than hospital oncology unit nurses regarding overall pain management knowledge, opioids, scheduling, and liberalness. Hospice nurses also reported more pain education and a higher frequency of pain guideline review requirements than hospital oncology unit nurses. CONCLUSIONS: The most prevalent knowledge deficits concerned opioids. Practice setting and pain education may influence knowledge, as well as attitudes, about pain. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Further research is needed regarding nurses' pain management behavior and outcomes of pain management education in various settings.
PURPOSE/ OBJECTIVES: To identify knowledge strengths and weaknesses and misperceptions about cancer pain management between two groups of registered nurses in different settings. DESIGN: Descriptive, comparative survey. SETTING: 11 community-based hospices and 7 inpatient hospital oncology units within an urban county. SAMPLE: A convenience sample of 30 hospice and 34 hospital oncology unit nurses. Sample criteria included registered nurses who had worked for at least the preceding six months exclusively in either a hospice or hospital oncology unit. METHODS: The North Carolina Cancer Pain Initiative survey and a demographic survey were distributed to the work mailboxes of nurses in the participating facilities who met the inclusion criteria. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Hospice and hospital oncology unit nurses' knowledge and attitudes about basic pharmacologic cancer pain management. FINDINGS: Hospice nurses scored significantly higher than hospital oncology unit nurses regarding overall pain management knowledge, opioids, scheduling, and liberalness. Hospice nurses also reported more pain education and a higher frequency of pain guideline review requirements than hospital oncology unit nurses. CONCLUSIONS: The most prevalent knowledge deficits concerned opioids. Practice setting and pain education may influence knowledge, as well as attitudes, about pain. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Further research is needed regarding nurses' pain management behavior and outcomes of pain management education in various settings.
Authors: Mette L Rurup; Christiaan A Rhodius; Sander D Borgsteede; Manon Sa Boddaert; Astrid Gm Keijser; H Roeline W Pasman; Bregje D Onwuteaka-Philipsen Journal: BMC Palliat Care Date: 2010-11-12 Impact factor: 3.234