Effectiveness of an Educational Program on Nurses’ Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices toward Pain Management in Cancer Patients in Erbil City

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Cancer pain is one of the main symptoms of cancer that seek the patients to hospitals for management of pain. study was aimed to to assess the effectiveness of an educational program on nurses' knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding pain management for patients with cancer admitted to Nanakaly hospital in Erbil city.
Methods: Quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Nanakaly and Rizgary teaching hospitals in Erbil city, Kurdistan region / Iraq. Nurses from both hospitals were selected as control and intervention group respectively. Nurses were assessed via the socio-demographic characteristics questionnaire, knowledge and attitude survey regarding pain, and practices’ observational checklist.
Result: A total of 64 nurses (32 from control group and 32 from intervention group) were participated. Nurses’ knowledge and attitude towards cancer pain management was improved after implementation of education program, but nurses’ practice was not improved
Conclusion: nurses had incompetent practice regarding cancer pain management. Nurses had more knowledge and attitude regarding pain management than those who did not attend the program. Attempt should more focus on nurses’ practice towards cancer pain management.