Effect of an Educational Program on Nurses’ Level of Knowledge about Pain Assessment and Management: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Background Pain is universally acknowledged as one of the most distressing experiences individuals encounter, often leading to significant psychological and physical implications. Effective pain management is essential in healthcare, and it is imperative that nursing professionals possess the requisite knowledge and skills to assess and manage pain effectively. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a structured educational program on nurses' performance levels in pain assessment and management. Methods A quasi-experimental, one-group pre- and post-test intervention design was used to facilitate this investigation. The research was conducted in the inpatient medical and surgical units in a main tertiary governmental hospital in Jordan. A total of 106 male and female nurses who provided direct nursing care in medical and surgical wards voluntarily participated in the study. Two instruments were utilised for data collection. A questionnaire was designed to assess nurses' knowledge regarding pain assessment and management, and an observational checklist was used to evaluate the practical application of pain management techniques by nurses. Results The study focused on a sample predominantly comprising female nurses, most of whom held a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and had 2–5 years of clinical experience. Notably, 88.7% of participants had not previously attended educational sessions centred on pain assessment and management. Following an educational intervention, statistical analysis revealed a significant improvement in the mean knowledge scores (P<0.001). Furthermore, all dimensions of nursing practices related to pain management showed statistically substantial enhancement after the training, demonstrating a strong correlation between knowledge and practice levels before and after the educational program. Conclusion The educational program's implementation resulted in more thanhalf of the participating nurses achieving a commendable level of knowledge and satisfactory practices in pain assessment and management. This underscores the program's effectiveness in enhancing both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. It is recommended that nursing professionals engage in ongoing training and educational opportunities focused on pain assessment and management to further refine their competencies and improve patient outcomes.