The knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals of an orthopedic ward regarding opioid administration: a Caribbean perspective
Abstract
Background & Objective: Opioids remain the mainstay of management of postoperative pain, despite a number of associated side effects and a chance of habituation or even addiction. This study aimed to look at the knowledge and attitudes of Health Care Professionals (HCPs) towards opioid use as the both of these directly impact management of post-operative pain in surgical patients.
Methodology: A questionnaire like the one used in a Taiwan study by Luo Ping Ger et al. was administered. A total of seventeen questions were used to evaluate knowledge and attitudes towards opioid use using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from Strongly agree to strongly disagree. The questionnaire was administered to HCPs at various levels who were involved in the treatment of the orthopedic patients.
Results: The paucity of knowledge about opioids and the methods of administration leads to poor attitudes regarding opioid prescribing, administration, and side effect profile. This would, in turn, lead to general noncompliance by nursing staff regarding administration of the drug. Also, it was determined in the survey that a notable percentage of HCPs may not know what to do if there was a side effect related to opioid administration, as there was a general lack of knowledge about how to recognize and precautionary measures to be instituted.
Conclusion: Most health care professionals had a positive attitude regarding respiratory depression and opioids; however, this was not seen with the other side effects such as abdominal distension, nausea and vomiting, and constipation where negative attitudes were expressed by the senior nursing staff. This may be attributed to lack of continuous medical training regarding pain management on the ward.
Key words: Health Care Worker; Opioids; Orthopedics; Pain, Acute; Pain, Perception; Pain, Relief; Pain, Attitude
Citation: Ventour D, Ragoonath M. The knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals of an orthopedic ward regarding opioid administration: a Caribbean perspective. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2023;27(5):539−547; DOI: 10.35975/apic.v27i5.2310
Received: February 16, 2023; Reviewed: July 27, 2023; Accepted: September 01, 2023
