The Effect of Pain Management Training on Nurses' Knowledge and Attitude Toward Pain Management in Bent Alhuda Hospital, Thiqar Governorate, Iraq Publisher



Dakhil ZA ; Parvizy S ; Aliakbari M
Source: Rawal Medical Journal Published:2026

Abstract

Objective: To examine the impact of structured pain management training on pediatric nurses’ knowledge and attitudes at Bent-Alhuda Hospital in ThiQar Governorate, Iraq. Methodology: This quasi-experimental pre-test/posttest study included 38 nurses. The Pediatric Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Survey (PNKAS) assessed participants’ knowledge and attitudes before and after training. Reliability improved from Cronbach’s α = 0.67 (pre-test) to 0.71 (post-test). Results: Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test revealed significant gains in post-training scores (mean=58.82±10.72) compared to pre-training (mean=44.15±16.70), |Z| = 5.37, p<0.001. Key improvements were noted in under standing analgesic administration, pain assessment techniques, and opioid scheduling for chronic pain. Persistent misconceptions included overreliance on vital signs, concerns about opioid addiction, and underestimation of non-pharmacological interventions for severe pain. Nurses continued to struggle with recognizing the child as the most accurate judge of their pain. Conclusion: Findings support the effectiveness of targeted training in enhancing pediatric pain management competencies. However, residual misconceptions suggest the need for ongoing education, mentorship, and institutional policy support to reinforce best practices. © 2026, Pakistan Medical Association. All rights reserved.