Pain is a subjective and complex experience, defined as an unpleasant sensory or emotional sensation. According to McCaffery, pain is what the person experiencing it says it is, and this definition emphasizes the importance of believing in the patient's pain experience. Nurses play a critical role in early pain assessment, addressing it, and evaluating treatment outcomes. Pain control in children is even more challenging and nurses need to have adequate knowledge and attitudes in this area.
Research shows that nurses' knowledge and attitudes about pain management in children vary and that there is a need for education in this area. Misconceptions, fears of parents and healthcare providers, inadequate pain scales, and lack of knowledge hinder optimal pain management in children. Therefore, educational programs are important to improve nurses' knowledge and attitudes about pediatric pain management.
Nurses' decisions in pain management are shaped by their experiences, levels of knowledge, and beliefs. It has been determined that nurse education is of critical importance in pediatric pain management due to insufficient knowledge. Educational programs positively affect nurses' knowledge and practices about pain physiology, pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain treatment. It has been proven that educational programs are effective in increasing nurses' pain knowledge and attitudes. These programs help nurses provide better care for children in pain.
Research shows that it is possible to fill the knowledge gaps of nurses about pain management and improve their attitudes. This contributes to nurses providing more effective pain management. It is recommended to provide ongoing pain management education and institutional support to nurses. Educational programs should cover various areas such as pain physiology, pain treatment, pain psychology, and sociology. It is also important to address cultural determinants and misunderstandings. Nurses' leadership qualities can play an important role in strengthening pain management policies. Effective pain management creates positive pain memories by protecting children from psychological and sociological adversities. Future studies should investigate the applicability of these suggestions in broader healthcare settings.
Full Text of the Study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1524904223002485?via%3Dihub