Nurses' Knowledge about and Attitude toward Cancer Pain Management: A Survey from Korean Cancer Pain Management Project

일개 병원 간호사의 암환자 통증관리에 대한 지식과 태도

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the nurses' knowledge about and attitude toward cancer pain management. Method: Study subjects of this retrospective cross-sectional survey study were 343 nurses sampled conveniently in a tertiary teaching hospital in Seoul. Seven measurement tools were used to collect data on demographic data, knowledge about and attitude toward cancer pain management, barrier to cancer pain management, knowledge about and concerns for the opioid use, and professional education of cancer pain management. Result: Nurses showed knowledge deficit when their knowledge on the cancer pain management and the opiod use was evaluated using two case scenarios and the 15-item questionnaire respectively. Ninety-five percent of the nurses believed that cancer pain management is a major problem. However, inadequate staff knowledge of pain management was rated as the single most important barrier to adequate pain management by 20.4% of nurses. Only 10.9% and 23.2% of the nurses replied that nursing school's education and professional education in cancer pain management respectively, were adequate. Conclusion: This study confirms the existence of knowledge deficits and attitudinal barriers among Korean nurses that can impede cancer pain management. This study suggests a need for professional education for nurses on cancer pain management.