Nurses’ Knowledge and Practices About Pain and Pain Control in Children

Aim: This study was conducted with the aim of determining nurses’ knowledge and practices related to pain and pain control in children.Material-Methods: The population of this descriptive study comprised 26 nurses working in six Family Health Centers and one Community Health Center, and 19 nurses working in the pediatric clinic of a State Hospital located in the city center of a province in Central Anatolia. The data was collected using a questionnaire developed to determine nurses’ sociodemographic characteristics and their knowledge and practices about pain and pain control in children. Data was analysed via percentage and chi-square tests. Results: It was determined that the majority of the nurses utilized behavioral indicators to assess pain in children. The leading three of the most frequently reported pain symptoms by the nurses were crying (97.5%), restlessness (97.5%) and facial expression (90%). Although 95% of the nurses had no idea about the scales used to assess pain, they weren’t using pain assessment scales individually or in the units they worked at. In respect of relieving/alleviating pain, it was determined that 65% of the nurses administered routine analgesics, and that they did not adequately carry out the methods they could perform independently. Conclusion: It was determined that the nurses had lack of knowledge about pain and pain control in children and they did not carry out the pain control methods they can perform independently .