Factors related to postoperative pain management among nurses in Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, Thimphu, Bhutan

Abstract

ABSTRACT             Ineffective pain management leads to complications of prolonged hospital stay, and delayed recovery. The objectives of this study were to describe knowledge of postoperative pain management, attitude towards postoperative pain management, self-efficacy in postoperative pain management, postoperative pain management, and to examine the relationships among knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy, and postoperative pain management among nurses in Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH), Thimphu, Bhutan. A descriptive correlational design was used with a total population of 115 nurses. Data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings of the study revealed that nurses had inadequate knowledge of postoperative pain management/nurses had positive attitude towards postoperative pain management/high self-efficacy in postoperative pain management. In addition, there was a positive correlation among nurses’ knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy, and postoperative pain management.         Therefore, it is recommended that nurses should get pain management training aiming to increase knowledge, attitude, and self-efficacy in postoperative pain management to improve nursing services.