Online Learning to Improve Nurses' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Self-Efficacy About Managing Postoperative Pain in Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Older adults undergoing total knee arthroplasty may develop chronic pain without effective postoperative pain management. Increasing nurses' knowledge, changing their attitudes, and developing their pain management self-efficacy could improve the effectiveness of pain management. AIM: To determine the effectiveness of an online learning program to help registered nurses to manage postoperative pain in older adults undergoing total knee arthroplasty. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test design with intervention and control groups. METHOD: Six inpatient units were randomly selected at a large tertiary care medical center. Sixty nurses were evenly divided between intervention and control groups to participate in online learning about postoperative pain management in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. The content was based on Kolb's experiential learning theory. Data were collected on nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward pain management and pain management self-efficacy at baseline and after completion. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, paired t-tests, and independent t-tests. RESULTS: The knowledge and attitudes about pain management and pain management self-efficacy toward older adults undergoing total knee arthroplasty of nurses in the intervention group significantly improved compared to the baseline and were also significantly higher than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: An online learning program improves nurses' understanding and ability to manage pain in older adults undergoing total knee arthroplasty. This was therefore an effective learning method.

Time from Pain Assessment to Pain Intervention.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe factors that influence nurses' time from pain assessment to intervention for acute postsurgical pain. BACKGROUND: Nurses' time is a limited resource that must be optimized to manage patients' pain within budget constraints. Little is known about processes and activities nurses negotiate to manage pain. METHODS: Human factors engineering and ethnography were used to quantify factors influencing time from pain assessment to intervention. RESULTS: On the basis of 175.5 observation hours, nurses spent 11% of shifts (mean, 83 minutes) on pain care activities. Time from alert to intervention with PRN analgesics or biobehavioral strategies for 58 cases ranged from 0 to 48 minutes (mean, <11 minutes). Five factors influenced timeliness. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses most efficiently managed postsurgical pain by giving analgesics ordered PRN on a scheduled basis. Nurse leaders can empower prompt responses to patients' pain through delegation, process improvements, real-time monitoring, and prescriber engagement.

Implementation of a Multimodal Analgesia Protocol Among Outpatient Neurosurgical Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery to Improve Patient Outcomes.

PURPOSE: This quality improvement project implemented an evidence-based multimodal analgesia protocol among patients undergoing outpatient spine surgery in an attempt to decrease postoperative opioid requirements, postoperative pain scores, and facility and postanesthesia care unit length of stay (LOS). DESIGN: Two independent samples were compared with a preimplementation and postimplementation design. There were 37 patients in the preimplementation group and 36 patients in the postimplementation group. METHODS: Data were collected by a retrospective chart review of neurosurgical patients undergoing spine surgery and included postoperative opioid requirements, postoperative pain scores, facility and postanesthesia care unit LOS, and the number of protocol components implemented on each patient. FINDINGS: Intraoperative and postoperative by mouth opioid requirements were significantly decreased postimplementation. Postoperative opioid requirements decreased, and postimplementation pain scores were reduced across all time points. LOS did not significantly change. CONCLUSIONS: This multimodal analgesia protocol significantly decreased opioid consumption among neurosurgical patients at this surgery center.

Ways of Reasoning Used by Nurses in Postoperative Pain Assessment.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain is a major concern of patients undergoing surgery. Pain assessment for patients undergoing surgery is a common requirement for surgical nurses and is the most important nursing approach to ensuring patient comfort. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to identify the reasoning used by nurses when assessing postoperative pain in patients. METHODS: Phenomenography was the research approach chosen to analyze the nurses' experiences. This approach is used to acquire qualitative knowledge about the ways individuals experience the world. RESULTS: The reasoning used by nurses in postoperative pain assessment was identified from two perspectives: the frames of reference used to interpret a patient's perception of pain and the strategic efforts used to assess the pain. An outcome space for the various categories of reasoning employed by the nurses with regard to postoperative pain assessment was constructed to determine how these categories were logically related. CONCLUSIONS: These findings have the potential to lead to a diverse range of nursing education modalities related to the adoption of different focuses and actions in postoperative pain assessment.

Consistency of postoperative pain assessments between nurses and patients undergoing enhanced recovery after gynaecological surgery.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore the consistency of pain intensity and pain location assessed by nurses and patients in gynaecology undergoing enhanced recovery after surgery pathway. BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown that clinical nurses' assessment of patients' pain is not always accurate. Little is known about the accuracy of nurses' pain assessments for gynaecological patients. Postoperative pain assessment and management is an essential part of enhanced recovery after surgery. DESIGN: Comparative cross-sectional study. METHODS: A total of 160 patients were recruited and only 85 patients and 17 nurses participated. Patients and nurses recorded pain scores (using an 11-point Numeric Rating Scale) and pain location (incision pain, surgical area pain in the abdominal cavity, other pain or no pain) on Pain Assessment Forms at 4 hr after surgery and on the first and second postoperative days. We used the STROBE guidelines to report our study. RESULTS: The patients' pain score was higher than that of nurses from 4 hr to second day after laparoscopic surgery at rest. The pain scores of both nurses and patients decreased over this period of time. All the intraclass correlation coefficients were between 0.214-0.296. At the three time points, surgical area pain in the abdominal cavity and abdominal incision pain were the main pain areas. All the kappa coefficients were between 0.164-0.255. CONCLUSIONS: The consistency of postoperative pain assessment about pain score and pain location between nurses and patients was not high. We should attach importance to systematic pain assessment, and more detailed enhanced recovery after surgery pathways should be developed about pain assessment. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Continuing education for nurses regarding pain assessment is necessary. Nurses should accept the patient's self-reported pain. There should be a step that gives more time for pain assessment in enhanced recovery after surgery pathways.

Congruence between nurses' and patients' assessment of postoperative pain: a literature review.

Postoperative pain remains poorly managed for many patients. Effective pain management begins with accurate pain assessment, with patient self-reporting considered the most accurate measure of pain. This literature review aimed to identify how congruent nurses' assessments of pain were with patients' self-reporting. A search identified six observational studies and one quasi-experimental study that met the inclusion criteria. The findings from these studies were summarised under two themes: nurses' underestimation of patients' pain and nurses' knowledge and understanding of pain assessment. Some nurses' pain management knowledge was deemed inadequate, with evidence of negative attitudes towards managing pain in certain groups of patients. Educational interventions have so far had limited impact on correcting the ethical and professional problem of inadequate pain relief in many patients postoperatively. Randomised controlled trials are required to identify effective education interventions that can contribute to ending this avoidable suffering.

Managing postoperative pain with opioid-sparing therapies.

ABSTRACT: The analgesic properties of opioids make them valuable pharmacologic options for patients with severe post-op pain, but healthcare providers must be cautious due to opioid-related adverse reactions. This article reviews select nonopioid adjuvant and adjunctive medications, as well as select nonpharmacologic therapies, as part of a multimodal approach to postoperative analgesia. The role of nurses in assessing, monitoring, and educating patients is also explored.

Feasibility of App-Based Postsurgical Assessment of Pain, Pain Impact, and Regional Anesthesia Effects: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Postsurgical follow-up calls enable nurses to assess a patient's condition, provide tailored education, and improve the patient's experience. Despite the benefits, barriers to phone-based assessments may include patient nonresponse and lack of time due to demanding clinical schedules. The purpose of this trial was to examine the feasibility and utility of a smartphone app, mCare, for assessing pain, pain impact, and peripheral nerve block effects in patients. DESIGN: Pilot randomized control trial. SETTING AND PATIENTS: Eligible patients at a military treatment facility undergoing same-day surgery were randomized to the mCare group (N = 24) or the standard-of-care telephone (N = 26) group. RESULTS: Outcomes included initial response (assessment completion) rates and participant and nurse satisfaction. There were no differences in the response rates upon initial contact attempt, and patients in both groups reported similar levels of satisfaction and convenience. Nurses reported greater satisfaction with the app compared with standard-of-care telephone calls. CONCLUSIONS: Before wider implementation, further considerations of app-based assessment need to be fully explored.

Enhanced preoperative education about continuous femoral nerve block with patient-controlled analgesia improves the analgesic effect for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty and reduces the workload for ward nurses.

BACKGROUND: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the most common treatment for end-stage knee osteoarthritis and continuous femoral nerve block (CFNB) has become the gold standard for analgesia. But the lack of knowledge about CFNB and patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) often leads to inappropriate dose of medications and increased workload for ward nurses. METHODS: After retrospectively registering to http://www.chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR1800018957), 60 patients undergoing unilateral TKA were randomly divided into groups A and B (n = 30 each). Patients in group B and their families received a nurse-led preoperative visit the day before surgery focusing on PCA educational pamphlets for postoperative pain management. Before returning to the ward, patients and their families in both groups received face-to-face PCA pump operation training. The usual postoperative follow-up was performed by nurse anesthetists for 2 consecutive days. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores at rest and during movement, knowledge of the PCA evaluated by a ten-question questionnaire, knee flexion angles, and the number of PCA-related nurse calls were recorded. RESULTS: The VAS scores at rest and during movement of the patients in group B were both significantly lower than in group A on postoperative days 1 and 2. The questionnaire scores of the patients in group B were much higher than those in group A on postoperative day 1, but not on day 2. Patients in the 2 groups had similar knee flexion on postoperative days 1 and 2. Patients in group B asked for assistance from the ward nurses with the PCA fewer times than those in group A, and the ward nurses were more satisfied with the analgesic protocol in group B. CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced preoperative education for CFNB with PCA can provide patients with a better grasp of postoperative pain management, improve the postoperative analgesic effect after TKA, and reduce the PCA-related workload for ward nurses. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was retrospectively registered to ChiCTR (identifier: ChiCTR1800018957 ) on October 18, 2018.

A Qualitative Study of the Postoperative Pain Management Educational Needs of Total Joint Replacement Patients.

BACKGROUND: The majority of patients undergoing total joint replacement (TJR) experience surgical pain in the early postoperative period and managing pain can be challenging for orthopedic surgeons and their patients. AIMS: The objective of this study was to better understand the postoperative pain management education needs of elective total joint replacement patients. DESIGN: This study had a descriptive phenomenological, qualitative design using individual interviews. SETTINGS: Nine orthopedic surgeons offices in 8 states. PARTICIPANTS/SUBJECTS: Twenty-seven patients (mean age: 71 years; 74% female; 78% non-Hispanic white) completed the interview. METHODS: Patients were interviewed using open-ended questions, which included experiences with surgical pain after surgery and how it was managed, experiences with pain medicine, experience using non-medicine-related pain reduction methods, and suggestions for delivery of pain management information. RESULTS: Challenges identified for managing postoperative pain included loss of pain control and lack of information about prescribed opioids and nonopioid methods of managing pain. Facilitators included having a caregiver or family member in a health care field and previous experience managing postoperative pain. Participants believed that information about pain management would be helpful and should be delivered at multiple time points. CONCLUSIONS: With trends toward shorter hospital stays, as well as the growing opioid epidemic and the associated concerns regarding prescribing opioids, home-based pain management should be a priority. Interventions should include education about narcotic use and abuse as well as nonmedication approaches to pain management.

Children's views on postsurgical pain in recovery units in Norway: A qualitative study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore children's postsurgical experiences with pain and pain management in the recovery unit. BACKGROUND: Children's pain is underestimated and undertreated. Untreated pain can cause unnecessary suffering, increased complication risks and may lead to chronic pain. Research exploring children's experiences with postoperative pain and pain management is limited. DESIGN: A qualitative, exploratory study. The study complied with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ). METHODS: Children (N = 20), 8-16 years old, took part in semi-structured interviews about their experiences with pain and postoperative pain management while they were in a recovery unit. Data were collected at two university hospitals in Norway. Content analysis was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: Three themes emerged from the interviews: "children's experiences of what felt unpleasant and painful," "children's experiences with pain management" and "children's recommendations for future pain management". About half of the children reported moderate to severe pain while in the recovery unit and they did not always tell their nurses when they had pain. They also reported experiencing pain in places other than their surgical wounds and stated that nausea and vomiting felt unpleasant and painful. The children indicated that pain medications and the use of nonpharmacological methods helped them cope with their pain and provided several recommendations about how to improve pain management. CONCLUSION: Paediatric postoperative pain management remains suboptimal. The children in our study provided useful information about their pain experiences, how to improve pain management and explained why they did not tell their nurses when they were in pain. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: These findings should direct further improvements in paediatric postoperative pain management, such as increased use of pain assessment tools and preparatory information, as well as more appropriate administration of pain medications.

Do surgical patients' characteristics and behaviours affect nurses' pain management decisions? A qualitative inquiry.

BACKGROUND: Despite a growing body of literature investigating the impact of patients' age and sex differences on pain, there is little research on how patients' characteristics and behaviours affect nurses' pain management decisions. AIM: This study examined surgical nurses' views and experiences toward pain management in relation to the patients' characteristics and behaviours in a Jordanian university hospital. METHODS: Focus group discussions (n = 4) were used with a convenience sample of 27 female Registered Nurses. RESULTS: The study revealed differences in postoperative pain management related to patients' characteristics. Male patients were seen as more tolerant of postoperative pain than female patients and thus required less nursing attention. As a consequence, nurses might assess female surgical patients inaccurately or judgementally. Nurses label female patients as "demanding" or "over-sensitive" without intending to be judgemental. Nurses also reported that patients accompanied by relatives received quicker nursing responses and closer monitoring than unaccompanied patients. CONCLUSIONS: If patients' pain following surgery is to be treated effectively, health care policymakers and educators should work together to eliminate and prevent potential biases that might lead to disparities in pain management.

Nurse-led post-thoracic surgery pain management programme: its outcomes in a Nigerian Hospital.

AIM: The overarching aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a nurse-led pain management programme on pain intensity, side effects of treatment, shoulder range of motion and length of stay after thoracic surgery. BACKGROUND: Post-thoracic surgical pain is a major source of stress and distress for patients. It has profound effects ranging from increased risks in developing chronic post-thoracic surgery pain to an increased length of stay after surgery. The post-thoracic surgical pain management in the Nigerian context is based on the traditional approach that is dependent on the attending medical and nursing staff. METHODS: The study was a quasi-experimental design (two-group post-test only). The study was conducted in a Nigerian hospital. Forty-two patients were recruited and consecutively assigned into either the usual pain management group or the intervention group after they had met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected utilizing the following: (1) the modified McGill Pain Questionnaire; (2) a Numeric Rating Scale; (3) the documentation form for thoracic surgery pain management outcomes and (4) a goniometer. RESULTS: The findings indicated that pain intensity, nausea and drowsiness were significantly reduced among the patients in the experimental group than the control group, while the duration of stay after surgery and the shoulder range of motion were not different between the groups. CONCLUSION: This study's results suggest that the intervention in question for patients undergoing thoracic surgery had a positive effect on reducing pain intensity, nausea and drowsiness but not the shoulder range of motion and length of stay after surgery. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING POLICY: Nursing policymakers may need to give a serious consideration to the revision of policies related to the nursing education curriculum as well as the in-service training curriculum regarding pain management by nurses especially after surgery. Likewise, future research on other populations employing an improved methodology as well as utilizing up-to-date evidence by nurses across different hospitals may be necessary.

Patient-directed self-management of pain (PaDSMaP) compared to treatment as usual following total knee replacement; a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Self-administration of medicines by patients whilst in hospital is being increasingly promoted despite little evidence to show the risks and benefits. Pain control after total knee replacement (TKR) is known to be poor. The aim of the study was to determine if patients operated on with a TKR who self-medicate their oral analgesics in the immediate post-operative period have better pain control than those who receive their pain control by nurse-led drug rounds (Treatment as Usual (TAU)). METHODS: A prospective, parallel design, open-label, randomised controlled trial comparing pain control in patient-directed self-management of pain (PaDSMaP) with nurse control of oral analgesia (TAU) after a TKR. Between July 2011 and March 2013, 144 self-medicating adults were recruited at a secondary care teaching hospital in the UK. TAU patients (n = 71) were given medications by a nurse after their TKR. PaDSMaP patients (n = 73) took oral medications for analgesia and co-morbidities after two 20 min training sessions reinforced with four booklets. Primary outcome was pain (100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS)) at 3 days following TKR surgery or at discharge (whichever came soonest). Seven patients did not undergo surgery for reasons unrelated to the study and were excluded from the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis. RESULTS: ITT analysis did not detect any significant differences between the two groups' pain scores. A per protocol (but underpowered) analysis of the 60% of patients able to self-medicate found reduced pain compared to the TAU group at day 3/discharge, (VAS -9.9 mm, 95% CI -18.7, - 1.1). One patient in the self-medicating group over-medicated but suffered no harm. CONCLUSION: Self-medicating patients did not have better (lower) pain scores compared to the nurse-managed patients following TKR. This cohort of patients were elderly with multiple co-morbidities and may not be the ideal target group for self-medication. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN10868989 . Registered 22 March 2012, retrospectively registered.

In-hospital usability and feasibility evaluation of Panda, an app for the management of pain in children at home.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain in children is often poorly managed at home, leading to slower functional recovery, poor oral intake, sleep disturbances, and behavioral changes. Panda is a smartphone application (app) designed to support parents in assessing their child's pain and managing medications. AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the Panda app's usability and feasibility in hospital prior to testing the app at home. METHODS: The study comprised two phases. Phase I evaluated Panda's usability with nurses, parents, and adolescents using simulated scenarios. Usability was measured by task completion rate, user error rates, and the Computer Systems Usability Questionnaire. Phase II evaluated Panda's feasibility by observing parents/guardians of pediatric patients using the app on the postsurgical ward. Feasibility was measured using response frequency and delay following app notifications from an audit trail of app function, and parental satisfaction from an interview. Feedback was used to guide iterative app improvements. RESULTS: In Phase I, 13 nurses, 12 parents, and 5 adolescents evaluated the app. A total of 103 usability issues were identified, analyzed, and addressed. In Phase II, 29 parents responded to a total of 151 app notifications, with 84% responding within 1 hour in the final round of testing; 93% of participants reported the app was easy to use, and rated the app with a median [interquartile range] Computer Systems Usability Questionnaire score of 2 [1-4]. Significant barriers to use included lack of flexibility in the medication scheduling, low volume of alert sounds, and the extra time spent on medication safety checks. CONCLUSION: Panda's usability was improved and its feasibility demonstrated in the controlled hospital environment. The next step is to evaluate its feasibility for use at home.

The Effect of Exaggerated Lithotomy Position on Shoulder Pain after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: The exaggerated lithotomy position with the expertise of nurses can be successful solution for the patients who have the postoperative shoulder pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. AIMS: This study aimed to determine the effect of applying an exaggerated lithotomy positions to patients who had laparoscopic cholecystectomy to relieve shoulder pain. The study was conducted on nonrandomized groups and made as a semiexperimental study with a pretest/post-test control group design. Design, Settings, and Subjects/Participants: The study was conducted on 102 patients who had elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy and agreed to participate in this study after they met the inclusion-exclusion criteria in the general surgery clinic of a training and research hospital in Istanbul between December 12, 2012, and June 30, 2013. METHODS: The pain levels (10 minutes before and after positioning) and peripheral oxygen saturation (SPO2) levels (1 minute, 5 minutes, and 10 minutes before and after positioning-total 6 times) of the patients were measured using a visual analog scale and pulse oximetry, respectively. The pain levels and the analgesic (pethidine hydrochloride and diclofenac sodium) usage of the patients in both the experimental and the control group were compared. RESULTS: The exaggerated lithotomy position appreciably lowered the shoulder pain of the patients in the experimental group (t = 12.663; p = .000 < .001). It also increased peripheral saturation levels of the patients more rapidly compared with those in the control group receiving analgesics (t = 17.693; p = .000 < .005). In addition, it decreased the need to use additional analgesics and opioids (t = 2.14; p = .037). CONCLUSIONS: In this study the exaggerated lithotomy position was found to be fast and effective for relieving shoulder pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, decreased the need to use additional analgesics and opioids, and, in conjunction with pain control, also contributed to improvements in respiratory functions.

Nurses' Knowledge, Attitudes and Clinical Practice in Pediatric Postoperative Pain Management.

BACKGROUND: Despite readily available evidence to guide practice, children continue to experience moderate to severe pain in hospital postoperatively. Reasons for this may include attitudes of nurses toward pain management and their lack of knowledge in key areas. AIMS: To identify nurses' knowledge and clinical practice of pediatric postoperative pain management and whether there is a link between knowledge and practice. DESIGN AND SETTING: A descriptive cross-sectional study including a questionnaire and observations was conducted in postanesthesia care (recovery) units in six university hospitals in Norway. METHODS: Nurses completed the Pediatric Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain Questionnaire-Norwegian Version (PNKAS-N). We observed their clinical practices using a structured observational tool and field notes. RESULTS: Nurses completed the PNKAS-N (n = 193) and were observed (n = 138) giving postoperative care to 266 children (70 hours per unit, 416 hours in total). The mean PNKAS-N score was 29 (standard deviation 4.2) of 40. We identified knowledge deficits, mainly in pharmacologic management, such as in risk of addiction and respiratory depression. We found that, overall, pain was assessed using validated tools in 19% of the children; this fell to 9% in children aged <5 years. More than 66% of children received an inadequate dose of morphine postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Nurses have knowledge deficits about pediatric pain management and do not always use their knowledge in practice, particularly in relation to pain assessment. There is a need to improve nurses' knowledge of pediatric pain management and to test interventions that support the use of that knowledge in practice.

Postoperative Pain Management: A Bedside Perspective.

PURPOSE: Postoperative pain management is an ongoing challenge in surgical care, during which inadequate relief can contribute to postoperative complications, and nurses are key figures in this process. The aim of the present study was to gain knowledge of how nurses provide postoperative pain management for women undergoing major surgery for endometriosis. DESIGN: An ethnographic field study, consisting of semi-structured interviews and participant observations, was conducted in a setting of 2 gynecological units within a large Scandinavian university hospital. METHOD: The participants were mainly nurses and patients. The overall focus for the field observations and interviews was on how the participants interacted and made care decisions concerning pain. The analysis focused on nurse-patient interaction in postoperative bedside care. A principal theme, pain-related nursing practice emerged, together with the sub-themes nurse-patient interaction, interpretation and assessment of pain and pain management, which represented a circular process, identified in bedside practice. CONCLUSIONS: To some extend the postoperative pain management was influenced by unexpressed health beliefs and routine actions, and patient involvement was not prominent. Furthermore, the existing guidelines for pain management did not seem useful to the nurses. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: There is a need to develop a new and more practice-oriented postoperative pain management, in ways that also integrate the patient experience.

Implementing a pain management nursing protocol for orthopaedic surgical patients: Results from a PAIN OUT project.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of introducing a standardised pain management nursing protocol in orthopaedic patients undergoing surgery. BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain is a common phenomenon but is still undertreated in hospitalised patients. Nurses' lack of sufficient knowledge and skills about pain management may be a contributing factor to poor outcomes. DESIGN: An interventional, separate sample pre- and post-test. METHODS: A pain management nursing protocol was introduced and a handbook and training sessions regarding management of postsurgical pain were provided to the nurses on a Joint Orthopaedic ward at a university-affiliated general hospital in Guangzhou, China. Before and after the intervention, nurses' knowledge about pain management and attitudes were assessed, and perioperative management practices and pain-related patient-reported outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Sixteen and 15 registered nurses, and 77 and 71 patients participated in the study before and after the intervention, respectively. Nurses' scores related to knowledge and skills increased significantly after the protocol was introduced but were still insufficient with regard to pharmacological-related items. The proportion of patients receiving a combined opioid and nonopioid increased after the intervention. Clinically significant changes were observed in some patient-reported outcomes, such as worst pain since surgery, percentage of time experiencing severe pain, and pain interference with activities out of bed. There were significant changes in nonpharmacological methods administered by nurses to patients or used by patients to relieve pain. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a pain management nursing protocol combined with education in one surgical ward was associated with nurses' increased knowledge and attitudes regarding pain, a change in some management practices, and improvement in a number of pain-related patient-reported outcomes. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: It was feasible to develop and implement a standardised pain management nursing protocol and use it in the clinical routine. The intervention had an effect on changing some features of care, with an improvement in patient-reported outcomes. Support by leaders and medical team facilitated the process of the implementation.

Knowledge, compliance with good clinical practices and barriers to effective control of postoperative pain among nurses from hospitals with and without a "Hospital without Pain" certificate.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: (i) To compare knowledge and compliance with good clinical practices regarding control of postoperative pain among nurses employed at hospitals with and without a "Hospital without Pain" certificate, (ii) to identify the determinants of nurses' knowledge and (iii) to define barriers to effective control of postoperative pain. BACKGROUND: Only a slight improvement in postoperative pain control has been observed recently, if any. Implementation of good clinical practices in the control of postoperative pain requires involvement of nurses. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: The study included 257 nurses from hospitals with a "Hospital without Pain" certificate and 243 nurses from noncertified hospitals, with mean job seniority of 17.6 ± 9.6 years. All respondents answered 26 questions regarding postoperative pain control-related issues. Based on the answers, overall scores were calculated for (i) nurses' knowledge, (ii) compliance with good clinical practices and (iii) barriers to effective control of postoperative pain. RESULTS: Nurses from the certified hospitals presented with significantly higher levels of knowledge and compliance with good clinical practices and identified significantly more barriers to effective control of postoperative pain. Apart from certification of a hospital, better knowledge of postoperative pain control was determined by higher education, participation in postgraduate training programmes and other relevant courses, self-education from medical journals, employment at paediatric ward or intensive care unit. The most commonly reported barriers to effective control of pain included too low doses of painkillers prescribed by physicians and inability to modify the protocol of pain treatment by the nurse. CONCLUSIONS: Control of postoperative pain can be improved by enrolling nurses in various forms of continuous training and by providing them with greater autonomy in administering painkillers to surgical patients. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Better quality of care offered to patients with postoperative pain can be achieved by continuous education of nurses and physicians, and greater compliance with relevant good clinical practices.