Level of attitude, knowledge and practice of nurses toward postoperative pain management, cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Patients still experience unnecessary pain in many hospitals, especially after surgery, despite increasing awareness of pain management in many healthcare settings. Unrelieved postoperative pain has been shown to increase the incidence of postoperative complications (such as atelectasis, pneumonia, thromboembolism, and impaired immune function. Little known and not known, evidence to understand gaps in nurses' attitudes and practices regarding postoperative pain management in our hospital. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed with 144 nurses A systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants. Data were collected using a self-administered and verified structured questionnaire; Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS software version 24. Descriptive results are presented by frequency, percentage, mean, bar graph, and pie chart. RESULTS: Overall results from 144 study participants showed that nurses had good knowledge 78 (54.2%), favorable attitudes 67 (60.4%), and practice 81 (56). %) on pain management after surgery. In terms of nurse training, 60 (41.7%) have a bachelor's degree holders and only 34 (23.6%) nurses are trained in postoperative pain management. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the nurses' overall knowledge of postoperative management was good, with favorable attitudes and good practices. But the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice according to the research are only average; therefore, it will make it possible to recommends to the responsible authorities of universities, hospitals, and nurses to organize continuing education.