Background Pain is a common phenomenon among emergency patients which may lead to chronic pain conditions and alteration of physiological function. However, it is widely reported that proper pain assessment and management, which is often accomplished by adequately trained nurses reduce the suffering of patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the emergency nurses´ knowledge, attitude and perceived barriers regarding pain management. Methods A cross-sectional quantitative study design was applied to determine the nurses´ knowledge level, attitude and the perceived barriers related to pain management. Hundred twenty-six nurses from the emergency departments of seven referral hospitals of Eritrea participated in the study. Data were collected in August and September 2017. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to summarize and elaborate on the results. Result In general, the knowledge level and attitude of the emergency nurses was poor. The participants' correct mean score was 49.5%. Nurses with Bachelor's Degree had significantly higher knowledge and attitude level compared to the nurses at the Diploma and Certificate level of professional preparation (95% CI = 7.1-16.7 and 9.4-19.1; p <  0.001) respectively. Similarly, nurses who had previous training regarding pain scored significantly higher knowledge level compared to those without training (95% CI =1.82-8.99; p = 0.003). The highest perceived barriers to adequate pain management in emergency departments were measured to be overcrowding of the emergency department (2.57 ± 1.25), lack of protocols for pain assessment (2.45 ± 1.52), nursing workload (2.44 ± 1.29) and lack of pain assessment tools (2.43 ± 1.43). There was no significant difference in perceived barriers among nurses with different demographic characteristics. Conclusion The emergency nurses' knowledge and attitude regarding pain management were poor. Nurses with higher educational level and nurses with previous training scored significantly higher knowledge level. This indicates the need for nursing schools and the ministry of health to work together to educate nurses to a higher level of preparation for pain assessment and management.

中文翻译：

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急诊护士在资源有限环境中关于疼痛管理的知识、态度和感知障碍：横断面研究。

背景疼痛是急诊患者的常见现象，可能导致慢性疼痛和生理功能改变。然而，据广泛报道，适当的疼痛评估和管理通常由训练有素的护士完成，可以减少患者的痛苦。因此，本研究的目的是评估急诊护士在疼痛管理方面的知识、态度和感知障碍。方法 采用横断面定量研究设计来确定护士的知识水平、态度和与疼痛管理相关的感知障碍。来自厄立特里亚七家转诊医院急诊科的一百二十六名护士参加了这项研究。数据于 2017 年 8 月和 9 月收集。描述性和推论性统计都被用来总结和阐述结果。结果急诊护士的知识水平和态度普遍较差。参与者的正确平均得分为 49.5%。与专业准备文凭和证书级别的护士相比，具有学士学位的护士的知识和态度水平显着提高（95% CI = 7.1-16.7 和 9.4-19.1；p < 0.001）。同样，之前接受过疼痛培训的护士的知识水平明显高于未接受过培训的护士（95% CI = 1.82-8.99；p = 0.003）。在急诊科进行充分疼痛管理的最大障碍是急诊科过度拥挤 (2.57 ± 1.25)、缺乏疼痛评估方案 (2.45 ± 1.52)、护理工作量 (2.44 ± 1.29) 和缺乏疼痛评估工具 (2.43 ± 1.43)。具有不同人口特征的护士在感知障碍方面没有显着差异。结论急诊护士对疼痛管理的知识和态度较差。受过高等教育的护士和受过培训的护士的知识水平明显较高。这表明护士学校和卫生部需要共同努力，教育护士为疼痛评估和管理做好更高水平的准备。关于疼痛管理的知识和态度很差。受过高等教育的护士和受过培训的护士的知识水平明显较高。这表明护士学校和卫生部需要共同努力，教育护士为疼痛评估和管理做好更高水平的准备。关于疼痛管理的知识和态度很差。受过高等教育的护士和受过培训的护士的知识水平明显较高。这表明护士学校和卫生部需要共同努力，教育护士为疼痛评估和管理做好更高水平的准备。