«Pain attitudes and knowledge»: Comparison between healthcare professionals and Psychology students
Michela Tocchet, Lorena Zanus
The study of pain and its treatment is an important field, due to the influence that it has on the person and the environment surrounding him or her, however, this area of interest is still of little consideration in Italian hospitals. The questionnaire Pain attitudes and knowledge analyses the knowledge in different areas of interest dealing with the treatment of pain. This research is based on the analysis of results obtained by giving the questionnaire to Psychology students, doctors and nurses. The descriptive analysis of the percentage of correct answers obtained from the students underlines predictable gaps in the specific field of pharmacology, but a positive sensitivity towards the patient and his or her own way of expressing pain. The healthcare professional displays greater knowledge of times and methods
of drug administration, but, at the same time, less consideration for the feelings of the patient and difficulties related to evaluation in the treatment of pain. The comparison between the two different results leads to interesting observations, not only about the specific knowledge of both groups, the students and the medical staff, but also about the structure of the questionnaire, underlining possible limits, from which ideas for its future improvement arise.
Keywords
Pain, Pain attitudes and knowledge, Pain evaluation, Pain psychologist, Questionnaire.
