Evaluation of acute postoperative pain monitoring program for nurses in Thailand

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of an acute postoperative pain monitoring program (APPMP) on pain knowledge, attitude, and applicability of nurses at Prasat Neurological Institute, Bangkok, Thailand.

METHODS: This study was conducted from 1st March to 31st October 2008, at the Prasat Neurological Institute, Bangkok, Thailand. Thirty-five neurological nurses were recruited. The effectiveness was evaluated using 3 indicators: pain knowledge score, attitude score, and nursing practice score. The mean score from each indicator group was calculated as the pre-APPMP launching test based. For the post-APPMP launching test, pain knowledge score, and attitude score were measured immediately after educating the participants, while the nursing practice score was measured 6 months later. The descriptive statistics and paired t-test were analyzed. Statistical significance was set at p<0.001.

RESULTS: The nurses' pain knowledge score increased significantly from 36.3-64.8%, together with the practice score from 20-32.2% (p<0.001). The nurses' pain attitude scores were 82.4% in the pre-test, and 84.2% post-test. The patients' satisfaction for the 24 hour post-operation pain management was 4.2±0.73, on a 5-point Likert scale.

CONCLUSION: The APPMP was effective in improving nurses' pain knowledge and practice. Although changing nurses' behavior in controlling patients' pain is possibly time consuming, however, education and a consultation system are still necessary. The APPMP was effective in improving nurses' pain knowledge and practice. Although changing nurses' behavior in controlling patients' pain is possibly time consuming, however, education and a consultation system are still necessary.