School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka.
J Clin Nurs. 2024 Dec;33(12):4795-4808. doi: 10.1111/jocn.17417. Epub 2024 Aug 29.
To explore registered nurses' beliefs regarding pain assessment in people living with dementia.
A descriptive exploratory qualitative study informed by the Theory of Planned Behaviour.
Online semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted from January to April 2023 with a purposive sample of 15 registered nurses caring for people with dementia. Following transcription, data were analysed using direct content analysis.
Registered nurses believe pain assessment improves the well-being of people with dementia and informs and evaluates practice. However, there is a possibility of misdiagnosing pain as agitation or behavioural problems, leading to inaccurate pain management. Interpersonal factors, such as registered nurses' knowledge and experience, beliefs and motivation to improve care provision, were the primary facilitators of pain assessment. Physical and behavioural dimensions of the pain of the dementia syndrome were the most reported barriers to pain assessment. Registered nurses reported that multidisciplinary team members expect them to do pain assessments. Most did not experience disapproval when performing pain assessments.
Registered nurses hold beliefs about pain assessment benefits, consequences, enablers, barriers, approvals and disapprovals regarding dementia. The findings could inform interventions to enhance pain assessment practices.
IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: Policymakers should provide education opportunities for registered nurses to improve their knowledge, skills and beliefs about pain assessment in dementia. Future research should develop and implement multidisciplinary, multifaceted pain assessment protocols to enhance the accuracy of pain assessment practices.
Pain is underassessed in dementia, and this could stem from registered nurses' beliefs about pain assessment in dementia. The findings could inform interventions to enhance pain assessment beliefs and practices.
This study adhered to the COREQ criteria.
Registered nurses caring for people living with dementia participated as interview respondents.
探讨注册护士对痴呆患者疼痛评估的信念。
基于计划行为理论的描述性探索性定性研究。
2023 年 1 月至 4 月，采用目的抽样法，对 15 名护理痴呆患者的注册护士进行了在线半结构式深入访谈。转录后，采用直接内容分析法进行数据分析。
注册护士认为疼痛评估可改善痴呆患者的幸福感，并为护理实践提供信息和评估。但是，存在将疼痛误诊为激越或行为问题的可能性，导致疼痛管理不准确。人际因素，如注册护士的知识、经验、信念和提高护理服务的动机，是疼痛评估的主要促进因素。痴呆综合征疼痛的身体和行为维度是疼痛评估最常报告的障碍。注册护士报告说，多学科团队成员期望他们进行疼痛评估。大多数人在进行疼痛评估时没有受到批评。
注册护士对痴呆患者疼痛评估的益处、后果、促进因素、障碍、认可和不认可持有信念。研究结果可为加强疼痛评估实践提供信息。
对专业和/或患者护理的影响：政策制定者应为注册护士提供教育机会，以提高他们对痴呆患者疼痛评估的知识、技能和信念。未来的研究应制定和实施多学科、多方面的疼痛评估方案，以提高疼痛评估实践的准确性。
痴呆患者的疼痛评估不足，这可能源于注册护士对痴呆患者疼痛评估的信念。研究结果可为加强疼痛评估信念和实践的干预措施提供信息。
本研究遵循 COREQ 标准。
参与访谈的是护理痴呆患者的注册护士。
