Sjuksköterskors handhavande av barns pre- och postoperativa smärta

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to examine how nurses prevent and treat post-operative pain in children aged four to twelve. A secondary purpose was to map out how childen's pre- and postoperative pain is estimated. The method used was a questionnare handed out to 39 nurses, covering the areas of information, pain-scales, pain-treatment, observation and documentation. The result showed deficiencies in nurses' handling of pre- and postoperative pain (in children) and that few nurses had knowledge of what fysiological complications untreated acute pain could lead to. Only a few of the nurses in the study considered themselves to have enough education in pharmacology, pain physiology and pain treatment. There is need for further education. Many of the nurses (n=16) on the wards did not know of any written guidelines concerning children's pain-treatment. Only 14 nurses answered that they always prevent children's post-operative pain. Knowledge of pain-relief for children can be developed by studying children's, parent's and the nursing staff's thoughts, feelings and actions around the subject. A recommendation for avoiding pain and for quality assurance is to estimate pain with the assisstance of pain-scales. Another recommendation is to use guidelines including handling for and documentation of pain.