Pediatric pain management: Knowledge and attitudes among nursing students in Saudi Arabia (A cross-sectional study)

Pediatric pain is a common experience and one of the main reasons for hospital visits and admissions. However, it is often undertreated, underdiagnosed and poorly assessed and managed. Limited knowledge, understanding, and attention given to pediatric pain management in nursing curricula and practice may be a significant factor for ineffective and/or poor pediatric pain. To examine the knowledge and attitudes of pediatric pain management among undergraduate nursing students in Saudi Arabia. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study, which included a sample of 173 bachelors of nursing students studying at Majmaah University in Saudi Arabia. The study used the Pediatric Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain (PNKAS) as an instrument. Poor knowledge and attitudes towards Pediatric pain and its management were found amongst the nursing student participants. The mean correct score for the entire scale was 32.1% (SD=9.9). There was a significant difference in the nursing students' scores with regards to gender, age, clinical experience, and qualification. Nursing students, in general, had poor scores of knowledge and attitudes regarding pediatric pain and its management. Intensive education and training on pediatric pain are urgently needed for nursing students in Saudi Arabia. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by IASE.