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Vol.6 , No. 6, Publication Date: Dec. 1, 2019, Page: 45-49
. Methods: A semi-structured and self administered questionnaire, was used to collect data from a convenience sample of physicians and nurses attached to clinical departments/units where children are cared for between June and August 2017. Their perception and practice toward assessment of pain were analysed. Results: Ninety-five (48.2%) physicians and 102 (51.8%) nurses participated in the study. Majority (33.5%) of them had 5-10 years work experience while 25% had more than 15 years. Commonest source of knowledge of assessing pain in children was school for 30% of respondents (14.7% of doctors; 44.1% of nurses) and in-service training (23.4%). More physicians (29.5%) did not know any pain assessment scale compared to nurses (17.6%), while 65.3% of doctors had never used any scale for assessing pain in children, as well as 44% of nurses. The most accurate judge of the intensity of the child/adolescent's pain was the child (41%), followed by the child's primary nurse (14.7%), the treating physician (11.7%) than the child's parent/caregiver (11.2%). Conclusion: There are gaps in the knowledge of healthcare providers concerning assessment of pain in children and pain rating scales are not routinely used. Capacity building interventions are required to enable application of standard practice for assessment of children's pain.&picture=http://www.aascit.org/aascit/decorators/img/journal/906.jpg)
| [1] | Gracia Ker Eke, Department of Paediatrics, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. |
| [2] | Uju Stella Azubogu, Department of Paediatrics, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. |
Background: Pain is one of the major reasons why children present to healthcare facilities. It is inadequately assessed and undertreated worldwide, whereas valid and easy to use tools to facilitate its assessment are widely available. Objectives: To describe clinicians' knowledge and self-reported practice on the use of pain rating scales in the assessment of pain in children at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). Methods: A semi-structured and self administered questionnaire, was used to collect data from a convenience sample of physicians and nurses attached to clinical departments/units where children are cared for between June and August 2017. Their perception and practice toward assessment of pain were analysed. Results: Ninety-five (48.2%) physicians and 102 (51.8%) nurses participated in the study. Majority (33.5%) of them had 5-10 years work experience while 25% had more than 15 years. Commonest source of knowledge of assessing pain in children was school for 30% of respondents (14.7% of doctors; 44.1% of nurses) and in-service training (23.4%). More physicians (29.5%) did not know any pain assessment scale compared to nurses (17.6%), while 65.3% of doctors had never used any scale for assessing pain in children, as well as 44% of nurses. The most accurate judge of the intensity of the child/adolescent's pain was the child (41%), followed by the child's primary nurse (14.7%), the treating physician (11.7%) than the child's parent/caregiver (11.2%). Conclusion: There are gaps in the knowledge of healthcare providers concerning assessment of pain in children and pain rating scales are not routinely used. Capacity building interventions are required to enable application of standard practice for assessment of children's pain.
Keywords
Assessment, Paediatric Pain, Pain Rating Scale, Southern Nigeria
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