Healthcare Worker s (HCWs) Knowledge and Attitudes Related to Pain Management in a Lebanese Tertiary Hospital

OBJECTIVEThis study aims to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare workers (HCWs) regarding pain assessment and management at a tertiary medical centre in Beirut, Lebanon as well as to identify areas for improvement. DESIGNA cross-sectional study was conducted with Healthcare Workers using the "Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain" (KASRP), a validated practice-based questionnaire. This specific tool was used to assess the participants knowledge and attitudes related to pain management. Descriptive statistics were presented as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. Independent samples t-tests or ANOVA tests were used to compare mean knowledge scores between groups. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. SETTINGThe study was conducted over a period of 1 month at a private tertiary hospital in Beirut, Lebanon. PARTICIPANTSThe study included physicians, nurses, and pharmacists working in different departments within the hospital: Internal Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, and Quality Management. RESULTSA total of 161 HCWs participated in the study (41 physicians, 100 nurses, and 20 pharmacists). The overall mean KASRP score obtained across all participants was 13.65 (SD = 9.93) for correct responses, indicating a moderate level of knowledge. Only 9 participants (5.6%) scored [&ge;]80%, which is considered as a satisfactory level of knowledge and attitude: 4 doctors (9.8%), 5 nurses (5%), and no pharmacists. Items of the KASPR score were categorized into 5 domains: assessment, medication, addiction, spiritual considerations and interventions. Variables potentially affecting knowledge and attitude towards pain management were analyzed: gender, age, profession, prior training on pain management, and years of experience. There was no statistical significance in the mean score of correct answers based on gender, prior training, or years of experience (p >0.05). However, age and profession showed a statistical significance of impact on the mean score of correct answers among HCWs (P <0.05), suggesting that these factors may influence pain management understanding among HCWs CONCLUSIONThe findings highlight gaps in knowledge and attitudes toward pain management among HCWs. Structured education and training programs on pain management are deemed necessary to enhance the knowledge and attitudes of HCWs for better patient outcomes. WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ON THIS TOPICPain is an undertreated clinical symptom and health burden affecting both hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients. Although pain has been designated as the 5th vital sign to ensure pain assessment and management, many patients continue to have uncontrolled or inadequate management of pain (1)(2). This negatively impacts the patients quality of life and overall wellbeing (2). A lack of adequate knowledge among HCWs remains a significant barrier to effective pain management (12), with misconceptions about pain evaluation; incorrect beliefs that patients overstate their pain; fears about drug tolerance and addiction; a lack of understanding of analgesic pharmacology; and difficulties in assessing pain in children (13). WHAT THIS STUDY ADDSTo date, there are no published studies that assessed the knowledge and attitudes of physicians, nurses, and pharmacists toward pain management in Lebanon. Conducting such research is essential to identify discipline-specific gaps and inform strategies to improve pain management knowledge and clinical practice among physicians, nurses, and pharmacists alike.