nurses competency regarding pain assessment of cancer

Abstract

Abstract Background: Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual and potential tissue damagel“. It is the most common reason for seeking health care. Cancer pain can be complex and difficult to treat. Up to 50% of patients may have pain at diagnosis, and greater than 75% may experience pain with advanced Ca1’1C€l'(2). The aim of this study is to investigate the nurses’ competency regarding pain assessment and management of cancer patients. Research methods: Descriptive, cross sectional hospital based study. The study was carried out in Radiation and Isotopes Center Khartoum and AL Amal Tower. The sample of this study consists of 48 nurses and the data was collected by responding to a questionnaire and an observational checklist. and the collected data was analyzed with SPSS 16 program. Results: Despite the disparity and the different years of experience among the nurses, the result of the study show that only 35% of them have received courses regarding pain assessment and management of cancer patients. According to this proportion (35%), the knowledge of the majority of these nurses (56.3%) regarding pain assessment and management in cancer patients is considered weak, this poor knowledge was represented for example: (75%) were unknown the scales used to assess pain. Also the practice was poor. (94%) of these nurses do not assess the pain as one of the vital signs. although, the attitude of these nurses to address the pain was positive. This positive attitude was responded to by (45%) who see the lack of pain expression does not mean lack of pain and (21%) were strongly agree, also (46%) agree to contact the physician if the patient has continuous pain afier receiving pain relieving medication and (46%) strongly agree. Conclusion: This study reveals that the knowledge and practice of these nurses regarding the pain assessment and management of cancer patients is poor. but the attitude is positive. The study reflects that there is no statistical association between the nurses knowledge and years of experiences because p. value was 0.381 and it is more than 0.05.