Perceived Nurses’ Barriers and Facilitators of Pain Management among Oncology Critically Ill Patients

Diab, Sheren M.; Rashed, Enaam E.; Abd Elaziz, Lamis M.; Maghraby, Abeer F.

doi:10.21608/tsnj.2025.457082

Perceived Nurses’ Barriers and Facilitators of Pain Management among Oncology Critically Ill Patients

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Assistant Prof of Critical Care and emergency nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University.

² Master student of critical care and emergency nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University.3Teatcher at Biyala secondary nursing school,

³ Professor of Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine,Tanta University

⁴ Lecturer of Critical Care and emergency nursing, Faculty of nursing, Tanta University.

10.21608/tsnj.2025.457082

Abstract

Background: Cancer pain is one of the worst, debilitating experiences among oncology critically ill patients. However, it is still undervalued and undertreated. So, it is critical to address barriers and facilitators of pain management among critical care nurses. Aim: Identify perceived nurses’ barriers and facilitators of pain management among oncology critically ill patients. Subjects and Method: Design & Setting: A descriptive correlational research design was conducted in the oncology hospital of Tanta Main University Hospital, Affiliated to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Subjects: A convenience sample of 70 critical care nurses from both sex. Tools: included Tool I: Nurses’ structured questionnaire regarding barriers and facilitators of pain management. Tool II: Nurses’ perception regarding pain management. Results: Findings showed that the most perceived barriers from nurses’ perspectives were related firstly to hospital then nurse and finally patient, but facilitator were related firstly to nurse then hospital and finally patient. Finding also demonstrated that 72.86% of nurses had low knowledge level and 65.71% of them had low perception level toward cancer pain. Also, there is a negative correlation between total barriers score and total knowledge score and a negative correlation between total attitude score and barriers related to nurses. Conclusions: Ineffective cancer pain management is related definitely to many barriers and facilitators that nurses encounter during their work, In addition to their low perception level toward cancer pain. Recommendations: There is an urgent need for creating educational programs for nurses about cancer pain in accordance with WHO standards and evidence-based nursing practice.