Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Pain Assessment and Management: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Pain remains a complex and multifaceted challenge in healthcare, affecting patient outcomes, quality of life, and healthcare costs. Significant gaps in knowledge and attitudes among nurses can hinder effective pain management, patient outcomes, and satisfaction. Purpose: This study assesses nurses' knowledge and attitudes regarding pain assessment and management. Methods: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional design was employed. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 161 registered nurses from various wards at a hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between January and April 2024. Data were collected using the Knowledge and Attitude Survey Regarding Pain (KASRP) and analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and independent t-tests. Results: The nurses' knowledge and attitudes regarding pain were moderate (M = 25.62, SD +/- 6.4). Less than a quarter of participants demonstrated a good level according to the KASRP (22.36%). The score was greater among nurses working in surgical, emergency, and hemodialysis units (F = 2.47, p = 0.03), those with good perceived competency levels in pain management (t = 3.41, p < 0.001) and knew about the availability of pain management protocols in the unit (t = 2.81, p = 0.003). Conclusion: The findings underscore the need for enhanced educational strategies to improve nurses' knowledge of pain assessment and pharmacological interventions, and to address misconceptions about opioid use and opioid dependency, as well as the ethical implications of placebo use. Continued professional development and the implementation of standardized protocols are recommended to improve nursing practice in this area.