Healthcare Worker s (HCWs) Knowledge and Attitudes Related to Pain Management: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Tertiary Hospital in Lebanon

Background Although pain has been designated as the 5th vital sign to ensure pain assessment and management, many patients continue to experience uncontrolled or inadequate management of pain. A major barrier to effective pain management remains the insufficient knowledge of Healthcare Workers (HCWs), including misconceptions about pain evaluation; beliefs that patients overstate their pain; fears about drug tolerance and addiction; limited understanding of analgesic pharmacology; and difficulty assessing pain in children. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of HCWs regarding pain assessment and management at a tertiary medical centre in Beirut, Lebanon and to identify areas for improvement. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted over one month at a private tertiary hospital in Lebanon using the validated “Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain” (KASRP) questionnaire. The survey assessed HCWs’ knowledge and attitudes toward pain management. Results A total of 161 HCWs participated in the study (41 physicians, 100 nurses, 20 pharmacists), from different departments within the hospital: Internal Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, and Quality Management. The overall mean KASRP score was 13.65 (SD = 9.93) for correct responses, indicating a moderate level of knowledge. Only nine participants (5.6%) scored ≥ 80%, considered a satisfactory level of knowledge and attitude. Items of the KASPR score were categorized into five domains: assessment, medication, addiction, spiritual considerations and interventions. Variables potentially affecting knowledge and attitude were analyzed: gender, age, profession, prior training on pain management, and years of experience. No statistically significant differences were observed based on gender, prior training, or years of experience (p > 0.05). However, age and profession showed significant associations with mean scores of correct answers (p < 0.05), suggesting these factors influence HCWs’ understanding of pain management. Conclusion The study reveals notable gaps in HCWs’ knowledge and attitudes toward pain management. These findings underscore the need for structured education and training programs to improve understanding and practices related to pain management, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes.