Effect of Pain Management Educational Program on Competency of Critical Care Area Nurses: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Pain management in critical care settings is a significant aspect of achieving quality patient care. Pain management education programs can be effective means toward enhancing the competencies of nurses in pain management. Therefore, this systematic review was conducted with the aim of examining the effects of pain management program on competency of critical care nurses.

Methodology: This systematic review was carried out according to a predefined protocols and reported according to PRISMA guidelines. The search was done on PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane and PsycINFO. The quality assessment was done using the Joanna Briggs Institute’s JBI checklist for quasi-experimental studies.

Results: Overall, 14 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. All the studies were quasi- experimental and achieved high quality methodology rigor. The findings were synthesized into three major themes; effects on knowledge and attitudes, effects nurses on skills of pain management and effects on clinical practices of pain management. The educational programs improved nurses’ competencies in terms of knowledge, skills and attitudes. However, the practices of pain management were not slightly improved.

Conclusion: The educational programs proved effective in improving, knowledge, skills and attitude competencies among nurses, in relation to pain management in critical care settings. However, the integration of these competencies in real clinical practices experienced some challenges. This necessitates the need to address structural and systematic barriers that may affect application of gained competencies in clinical practice.

Keywords:

Critical Care, Competencies Pain, Management, Nurses, Educational Program, Systematic Review

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