The Impact of Education on Knowledge of Pain Management Among Health Workers

Abstract

The optimization of pain management is clinically and ethically important given that pain is present across a range of healthcare settings and that poorly managed pain can lead to significant morbidity. The contribution of health workers to the management of patient pain is varied and will differ depending on the health worker, the patient’s condition, the healthcare setting, and a range of other factors. Yet, many health workers will care for patients who need both prevention and alleviation of pain, and their contribution to efforts at achieving this through assessing and responding to pain, educating patients about pain, offering pain relief, advocating for patients, and developing public health and preventative strategies ought to be guided by education on pain management and the prescription and use of pain medications.