Nursing students’ pain management self-efficacy and attitudes toward pain assessment

Background How well nurses assess pain depends on their knowledge, behavior, attitude, self-efficacy, and clinical decision-making skills. Objective This paper investigated nursing students’ pain management self-efficacy and attitudes toward pain assessment. Methods This descriptive study was conducted in three public universities in Türkiye between March and June 2023. The sample consisted of 484 nursing students. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Attitude Towards Pain Assessment Scale (ATPAS), and the Pain Management Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PMSEQ). Results Participants had a mean PMSEQ and ATPAS score of 72.03 ± 17.13 and 59.61 ± 8.66, respectively. Fourth graders had significantly higher mean PMSEQ and ATPAS scores than other grades. Participants who had received training in pain management before had significantly higher mean PMSEQ and ATPAS scores than those who had not. Participants who always encountered patients in pain had significantly higher mean PMSEQ and ATPAS scores than those who did not. Participants who used pain scales had significantly higher mean PMSEQ and ATPAS scores than those who did not. Participants who always assessed pain had significantly higher mean PMSEQ and ATPAS scores than those who did not. Participants who believed pain assessment was absolutely necessary had significantly higher mean PMSEQ and ATPAS scores than those who did not. There was a weak positive correlation between PMSEQ and ATPAS scores. Conclusion Nursing students have compatible pain assessment self-efficacy and positive attitudes toward pain assessment. As nursing students become more capable of assessing pain, they develop more positive attitudes toward it.